Released in 1958, Vertigo is widely regarded as Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece and one of the greatest films of all time. This is the first book devoted to exploring the philosophical aspects of Vertigo. Following an introduction by the editor that places the film in context, each chapter reflects upon Hitchcock’s film from a philosophical perspective. Topics discussed include:







memory, loss, memorialisation, and creativity
mimetic or representational art and art as magic
the nature of romantic love
gender, sexual objectification, and identity
looking, "the gaze", and voyeurism
film and psychoanalysis
fantasy, illusion, and reality
the phenomenology of colour.

Including annotated further reading at the end of each chapter, this collection is essential reading for anyone interested in Vertigo, and an ideal resource for students of film and philosophy.