The ingredients of a film determine its genre. There are several recognisable elements making up any given genre that would seem odd in any other context. We accept robots & ray guns in a science fiction but would be astonished if they occurred in a period drama, for instance. Genre

If a studio knows from recent experience that super hero films have enjoyed large audiences then a new one is likely to be commissioned. We, as an audience know what we are getting: genres are simplifying labels to help us know what to expect.

Spot the Super Hero Cliché

On the other hand, genres are not fixed but keep evolving new conventions and breeding sub- genres, such as horror- comedy. Like a good chef, an innovative director will experiment with generic ingredients in order to create something new and exciting. Why?

For a genre to ‘work’, it needs to show recognisable cinematic conventions, narratives, iconography, character types, ideologies, etc.

Film Noir

From what we’ve looked at already, can you remember any key genre features from film noir? What are the recurring images and themes in the stills?

Influence – German cinema from the 1920s Examples: The Joyless Street – G.W. Pabst Pandora’s Box – G.W. Pabst (1929) Asphalt – Joe May (1929)

Artificial sets used to carefully construct composition Strong use of lighting to create mood A generally dark and pessimistic atmosphere Depictions of strong emotion A solitary male character is lost in events beyond his control Women tend to be portrayed at extremes: virgins or whores

Influence – German cinema from the 1920s

So why the German influence at this time?

Influence – the mood and images from Edward Hopper’s paintings

Influence – American gangster films from the 1930s

Public Enemy Number One Scarface Little Caesar Lots of violence but little atmosphere

The Production code Also known as the Hays Code

Exiled filmmakers from Germany, Austria and Middle Europe with expressionist style & ideas influencing the look of the period + Images of urban America in the depression era + American audience taste for the gangster film + The new rules of the Production Code = Film Noir