Film Noir is one of Hollywood’s perennial cult genres, yet it is notoriously difficult to define, as it essentially amounts to a retrospective invention by critics. This module aims to place the main corpus of the genre’s classics within its original historical context of the 1940s and 50s. It will introduce and combine various approaches to the study of cinema history, including genre theory, exile studies, and studies on film economics, and cultural politics. Among the areas covered are: the influence of an international work force in Hollywood in the mid-20th Century (including exile filmmakers such as Billy Wilder, Fritz Lang, Robert Siodmak, Michael Curtiz, etc.); American foreign and internal policy during the Second World War and Cold War; social discourses surrounding gender, ethnicity, and crime as well as the queerness of noir.
We begin with a general introduction into theoretical approaches towards Hollywood genre cinema in the 1940s. The module then moves on to specific case studies of selected ‘classical’ noir films, which are chosen for their representativeness in addressing key issues. We will also look at seemingly more unorthodox and borderline examples which often cross boundaries to other genres such as horror, but which are crucial in understanding the narrative and cultural tensions evident in the more classical case studies. In the latter part of the module, we will consider how the noir paradigm can be found in other, and later, cultural contexts such as Europe and East Asia.
Each week will introduce a specific topic in a lecture, which is usually tied to a representative screening. The seminars are designed to be a forum for discussion and clarification of the issues addressed in the lecture and in the required reading for the week. Each student will be expected to be part of a short seminar-leading session either as an individual or in a small group, which is aimed at producing class discussion. This will enable you to develop your intellectual skills and ability to engage critically with the set reading and the week’s topic. Essay 1 is designed to consolidate your understanding of questions of genre, criticism and historical context, while essay 2 allows you to develop your interests and understanding of more specific topics raised by the module.
