1. o By Sharon Naretto

2. What is it??? Film Noir is cinematic term used regularly to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize moral dilemmas and sexual motivation Film Noir is cinematic term used regularly to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize moral dilemmas and sexual motivation A style of black and white films that first came about in the 1940’s and lasted until around 1960 A style of black and white films that first came about in the 1940’s and lasted until around 1960 This period of time was considered its “Golden Age” This period of time was considered its “Golden Age”

3. Just A Little About… The darkness and sorrow of the films reflected on the hardships of the times, while balancing with the upbeat Hollywood musicals and comedies The darkness and sorrow of the films reflected on the hardships of the times, while balancing with the upbeat Hollywood musicals and comedies Used as a metaphor for society’s evils Used as a metaphor for society’s evils Many plots and themes of film noirs were often adapted from American literary works Many plots and themes of film noirs were often adapted from American literary works The category encompasses a variety of genres, everything from a gangster film to a social problem film The category encompasses a variety of genres, everything from a gangster film to a social problem film

4. Characteristics Characterized by heroes, lightening effects, intricate plots, flashbacks Characterized by heroes, lightening effects, intricate plots, flashbacks Black and white films (literally “black film or cinema”) Black and white films (literally “black film or cinema”) Rarely has happy endings Rarely has happy endings Mostly shot in gloomy grays, blacks and whites Mostly shot in gloomy grays, blacks and whites Associated with low-key black and white visual styles Associated with low-key black and white visual styles Classics take place mainly in small towns, rural areas, suburbia, or open roads Classics take place mainly in small towns, rural areas, suburbia, or open roads Have different kinds of film noir, some including psycho- noir and science fiction noir Have different kinds of film noir, some including psycho- noir and science fiction noir

5. History Did not become a common word among critics until the book Panorama du Film Noir Americain was published in1955 by Raymond Borde and Etienne Chaumeton Did not become a common word among critics until the book Panorama du Film Noir Americain was published in1955 by Raymond Borde and Etienne Chaumeton Although the films were banned in occupied countries during the war, they became available in Europe in 1946 Although the films were banned in occupied countries during the war, they became available in Europe in 1946 Mostly crime dramas in the post WWII era Mostly crime dramas in the post WWII era French critics, came up with the name film noir because of the low- key lighting that is used to stylistically enhance the dramas (first by Frank Nino) French critics, came up with the name film noir because of the low- key lighting that is used to stylistically enhance the dramas (first by Frank Nino) First full-featured film noir was “Stranger on the Third Floor” in 1940 First full-featured film noir was “Stranger on the Third Floor” in 1940 Film noir rests in many different movies, but also in today’s TV shows like “Veronica Mars,” adding a youth twist to the concept of film noir Film noir rests in many different movies, but also in today’s TV shows like “Veronica Mars,” adding a youth twist to the concept of film noir

6. Question 1 What is a film noir- movie or TV show- that you watch today? What is a film noir- movie or TV show- that you watch today?

7. And a Little More About… Black and white films (literally “black film or cinema” Black and white films (literally “black film or cinema” Film noirs were rooted in German expressionism of the 1920’s and 1930’s Film noirs were rooted in German expressionism of the 1920’s and 1930’s Many plots and themes often adapted from American literary works Many plots and themes often adapted from American literary works Rarely had happy endings Rarely had happy endings

8. Some Major Film Noirs Some examples include: Some examples include: Stranger on the Third Floor (1940) Stranger on the Third Floor (1940) Kiss Me Deadly (1955) Kiss Me Deadly (1955) The Drowning Pool (1975) The Drowning Pool (1975) Blue Velvet (1986) Blue Velvet (1986) Crash (1996) Crash (1996) Fight Club (1999) Fight Club (1999) Insomnia (2002) Insomnia (2002)

9. Question 2 What is your favorite film noir and why is it your favorite? What is your favorite film noir and why is it your favorite?

10. The Important People Some major American film noir directors include Huston, Dmytryk, Cromwell, Orson Welles Some major American film noir directors include Huston, Dmytryk, Cromwell, Orson Welles

11. How is this related? “That film noir stuff is passé. Don’t you get it…stop being such a film buff.” “That film noir stuff is passé. Don’t you get it…stop being such a film buff.” This shows how the world has for the most part gotten past the black and white noirs because they are so out of date, and, of course, they’re not in color. This shows how the world has for the most part gotten past the black and white noirs because they are so out of date, and, of course, they’re not in color. “I’ll give you this: at least they’re in color. Except for Roger Rabbit, if I have to sit through another evening with you viewing another video in black and white, this relationship is over.” “I’ll give you this: at least they’re in color. Except for Roger Rabbit, if I have to sit through another evening with you viewing another video in black and white, this relationship is over.” This is somewhat ironic because there are so many different races in this book. Even Emi and Gabriel are different races. Nothing is as black an white as the movies make it out to be. This is somewhat ironic because there are so many different races in this book. Even Emi and Gabriel are different races. Nothing is as black an white as the movies make it out to be.

12. Question 3 Do you think that the fact that film noirs are usually black and white have some metaphorical value with the different races in the novel, or is the subject simply a dinner conversational piece? Do you think that the fact that film noirs are usually black and white have some metaphorical value with the different races in the novel, or is the subject simply a dinner conversational piece?

13. References www.britannica.com www.britannica.com www.filmsite.org/filnoir.html www.filmsite.org/filnoir.html www.wikipedia.org/wiki/film_noir www.wikipedia.org/wiki/film_noir