Goodbye to the Neighborhood

Howdy neighbor! I realize that in my adult life, no one has ever said that to me. Two particular movies do a good job of showcasing neighbors, or people who live within proximity to one another. These films are Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” from 1954 and Joe Dante’s “The Burbs” from 1989. Both movies are from two different eras of cinematic history, with two different plots. However, the similarities between the films are evident.

Neighborhood Activity in “Rear Window” and “The Burbs”

In “Rear Window,” Jimmy Stewart plays L.B. “Jeff” Jefferies. Together with his friends, he starts to notice strange things happening across the street where a strange man and his wife live. The situation takes a turn when the man living across the street from Jefferies is seen taking trips in the middle of the night. Later, it is revealed that this odd man’s wife vanished. That’s when the plot thickens.

In “The Burbs,” on the other hand, Ray Peterson, portrayed by Tom Hanks, and his neighbors start observing peculiar actions from a new family that has recently moved into the neighborhood. This family rarely leaves the house during the day. Some neighbors say they saw them digging deep holes in their backyard at night. Then, when a different neighbor goes missing, the new family on the block is suspecting of foul play due to their idiosyncrasies.

Relationships Between People in the Films

In “Rear Window,” the film takes place within an apartment complex in a big city. Despite being in a city, most people in the complexes seem to know and befriend each other.

 In “The Burbs,” the people who live in the suburbs, hence the name of the film, have a close relationship with one another. Some of the suburbanites, although skeptical of them, even go over to the eccentric new family’s house. They welcome them to the neighborhood with food.

The Lost Neighborhoods of “Rear Window” and “The Burbs”

The relationships between the people in “Rear Window” and “The Burbs” arguably seem to be unheard of in modern society. In “Rear Window,” you could say that the fact that the neighbors even acknowledge each other’s presence is somewhat amazing. Even before neighborhood relationships became distant, many people claimed that metropolitan residents rarely spoke to their neighbors. Therefore, you could make the case that “Rear Window” represented a different time regarding big city interactions.

In “The Burbs,” the friendly relationship between the characters is relevant to both the setting and the time the movie. “The Burbs” was released in 1989. Although that was 45 years after “Rear Window,” the depiction of neighborhoods in both time periods still seems quite different from today.

The action that takes place in “The Burbs” is in the suburbs. Unlike the big city environment of “Rear Window,” this type of setting is generally more characterized by friendly neighbors regularly interacting with each other. In “The Burbs,” the residents not only know each other’s names, but they also socialize with each other regularly. Today, even within suburban areas, the tendency for neighbors to socialize seems to be declining. It’s one thing that most suburban residents arguably don’t interact with one another. Many may not even know each other’s names.

Why Do Neighbors Not Communicate as Much Anymore?

Advancements in Technology

Although I consider technology beneficial and use it frequently, it has undoubtedly contributed to the decline of community cohesion. Even though I grew up with cable television and video games, I still made time to play outside with other children. Additionally, during my childhood, most people did not have access to over 300 channels unless they subscribed to a satellite service. At that time, there were not six different video game systems available. Nor is a new one releasing every two years. The internet was still in its infancy, and not everyone had a cell phone. Both children and adults are forcing to create ways to be entertained. Most importantly, people didn’t have a virtual means of communication to fall back on to contact one another.

Social Media

While social media falls under the umbrella of technology, it exists as its own powerful force. Residents in areas are communicating with their friends and associates via social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and everything in between. While this way of communicating is certainly more convenient, it has become so rampant that face-to-face interactions have become much less common. Furthermore, with people showcasing images of their house and lifestyle with others online, it’s almost as if social media is a neighborhood all its own.

Future of the ‘Neighborhood’

I’m not sure if the idea of ‘neighborhood’ in a traditional sense is becoming extinct. However, based on my own assessment, I can say that it has been on a downward spiral. Fewer people know each other nowadays. Sure, people may wave or say hi when passing each other. However, that’s the extent of communication.

Many times, people can live in the same neighborhood for years and still not know the actual names of the people they greet. Neighborhood children don’t seem to play with each other the way they used to. I’m concerned that their imaginations may disappear.

Recent viewings of “Rear Window” and “The Burbs” have enlightened me about the aspects that seem to be absent in today’s society. I certainly don’t think that people should spy on one another the way Jimmy Stewart’s character does in “Rear Window.” Nor do I think people have to get to know people they deem questionable, like the people in “The Burbs.” However, there needs to be more of a bond between neighbors, which was a noticeable theme of the two films.

If we as people keep on operating the way we have for the past 20 years, what will become of the ‘neighborhood’? We may be forced to watch classic films that showcase a time when they truly existed. One phrase I know of that many people grew up with was from the one and only Mr. Rogers, who said, “Won’t you be my neighbor?!” That’s also something I haven’t heard in a while!!