Guest Speakers: Tiara Janté, James Nettles, Alex R. White, K. Ceres Wright; WRITE Program Director: Venessa Giunta
What is Noir? A standard definition is: a genre of crime film or fiction characterized by cynicism, fatalism, and moral ambiguity.
However, our guests describe it in a more poetic sense: a potentially hopeless ending, existentialism, and tough main characters not giving a shit (often in classic Detective stories.) Often, there is an Anti-Hero/ine faced with a dystopian, dark, or gritty future. Other factors can involve drugs, large corrupt establishments, the lowered value of life in an urban setting (cousin to the Goth or Cyberpunk genres.)
Sometimes the protagonist will do the right thing for the wrong reasons, or there may be some level of rebellion. Audiences want to know more about characters who aren’t saving the world just because it’s “good” or “right.” Usually there is a character arc for most traditional stories, but not so much for the Noir genre. The protagonist will stick to his/her personality, beliefs, etc. throughout their journey, and change very little if at all. This can extend even to something like wounds, which refuse to heal – whether they are physical or metaphorical.
Blade Runner is an excellent example of Neo-Noir in cinema which emphasizes the language, dress, etc. in order to enhance the tone and mood.
These stories often mirror conflicts from modern society, though they are severely exacerbated. There may be threats such as Artificial Intelligence, or Hackers (leaning a little more towards Cyberpunk) though this is especially true if the threat is coming from figures of authority. Another theme is the idea of machines encroaching on humanity. However, the ability to instantly communicate with others (via cell phone or internet) can solve many problems, so it’s important to manifest conflicts which will prevent communication in order to increase tension or drama.
Focus on torturing your hero/ine, with story aspects as your first priority. You’ll want to focus on gadgets too, but those will be secondary (and with significant research.) Break your audience’s heart! Make them believe that this character could be so much better if only they were in different circumstances. These Noir stories don’t necessarily have happy endings. The protagonist may come to the staggering realization that no matter what they do, they can’t beat the system… This can emulate the touch of a more realistic ending, and therefore relatable.
In regards to the script itself, there are not nearly as many extraneous words. Sentences are generally shorter and more concise. In some cases, the language is considered brutish or even cruel. Ex: “A smile” can translate into “A sharkish grin.” This is a great technique to implement, so that when aspects of humanity (or the beauty therein) finally do break through, it is cathartic rather than simply nice.
So, what do you think about the Noir genre? Do you have a favorite story that fits within this category, and if so, what? Do you prefer the darkness and grit as opposed to happy endings, or do you believe that the two can coincide? Let me know your thoughts in the Comments Section below!
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