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Others argue that film noir is not a genre. It is often associated with an urban setting, but many classic noirs take place in small towns, suburbia, rural areas, or on the open road; setting is not a determinant, as with the Western.
- United States
- early 1920s – late 1950s
- Film Noir: The Origin Story
- The Magic of Mise-En-Scène
- The Femme Fatale: Film Noir and Femininity
- The Interrogation of Gender
As society leaped into the second half of the 20th century, there was also a shift in desire. Directors in France were disgruntled with the “cinema de papa,” dull, old-school films that critics like Francois Truffaut looked down upon due to their lack of substance. The historical narratives did not ring true to the creative new filmmakers who wante...
Film noir directors wished to engage with audiences in more ways than one. Creatives during the peak of film noir relied on mise-en-scène. Translating to “put in the scene", directors use position, dialogue, lighting, framing, and even clothing to signal audiences about a given character or to foreshadow the climax or conclusion of the film. The st...
At a glance, the film noir genre and the many archetypes within that world seemed like a dream to their intended audiences. Men and boys could look to actors like Humphrey Bogartto serve as their models for masculinity. Women who were disgruntled with the postwar pressures of marriage and motherhood could find their dreams achieved by women like Ph...
Femme fatales act as a form of representation of women who found themselves free from the cult of domesticity. As mentioned, the 1940s saw women join the workforce. As a result, their mere freedom led to a societal interrogation of gender roles, sexuality, and marriage. Even Phyllis in Double Indemnity, a notable femme fatale, did not murder out of...
Mar 6, 2024 · Key People: film noir, style of filmmaking characterized by such elements as cynical heroes, stark lighting effects, frequent use of flashbacks, intricate plots, and an underlying existentialist philosophy. The genre was prevalent mostly in American crime dramas of the post- World War II era.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Nov 7, 2023 · Nov 7, 2023 • By Kat Bello, BA in Visual Arts & Art History. Film Noir is 1940s cinema filled with femme fatales, doomed anti-heroes, gray morality, and dangerous, dark streets. It is born from the cracks of war and recession and cloaked in slick visuals, deep shadows, and experimental style.
Jun 27, 2021 · What is film noir? Film noir is a stylized genre of film marked by pessimism, fatalism, and cynicism. The term was originally used in France after WWII, to describe American thriller or detective films in the 1940s and 50s.
Sep 24, 2023 · Film noir lighting isn’t your typical, well-balanced lighting setup. It’s a deliberate departure from the norm, characterized by high contrast and stark shadows. Think of it as a dance between light and darkness, where each element has a critical role to play.
Sep 14, 2022 · William Luhr. LAST REVIEWED: 14 September 2022. LAST MODIFIED: 28 October 2011. DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780199791286-0029. Introduction. Film noir emerged out of a nexus of American sociopolitical crises, including the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War.