Gender, Power and the Film Noir Student Edition

1
Gender, Power and the Film NoirStudent Edition

• Based on Works by
• Andreia Thaxton Jeneen Surrency
• Aaron Simmons Greg Thompson

Created and Edited by Dr. Kay Picart _at_ 2002
2
Film Noir--Lecture Outline

• This PowerPoint is broken into two sections.
• This division should correspond to two fifty
  minute class sessions.

3
Film Noir--Lecture Outline (2)

• Section One covers John Beltons article Film
  Noir Somewhere in the Night, and L.A.
  Confidential as an example of Film Noir
• Section Two covers the Brian Gallagher text and
  its relationship to the film
• Each section will contain discussion questions
  relative to the information.

4
Film Noir Time, Section One

• Background and Conventions of Film Noir (10
  minutes)
• Masculine and Feminine Character Types (10
  minutes)
• Links to Existentialism
• (optional 10 minutes)
• L.A. Confidential (20 minutes)

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Film Noir Background

• What are the origins of the term film noir?
• What does film noir mean?

Continued on Next Slide
6
Film Noir Background (2)

• What themes are characteristic of film noir?

Continued on Next Slide
7
Film Noir Genre, Series of Mode

• As Genre, what elements does film noir contain?

Continued on Next Slide
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Film Noir Genre, Series of Mode

• As Series, what are film noirs characteristics
  as an aesthetic movement? (Pay attention to film
  form.)

Continued on Next Slide
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Film Noir Genre, Series of Mode

• As Mode, what are film noirs key characteristics?

10
Small Group Discussion

• Profile the standard male protagonist of the film
  noir.

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Film Noir The Fe-Male Character

• What two threats does the female pose to the Film
  Noir hero?

Continued on Next Slide
12
Film Noir and Existentialism

• Themes of Film Noir deal with such existential
  issues such as _________?

Continued on Next Slide
13
Critique L.A. Confidential as a Film Noir
L.A. Confidential will be abbreviated L.A.C.
hereafter
Continued on Next Slide
14
Film Noir Aesthetics in L.A.C.

• Comment on the lighting and camera angles in
  L.A.C.
• Give specific examples

Continued on Next Slide
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Film Noir Aesthetics in L.A.C. (5)

• Voice-Over Narration
• Give examples

Continued on Next Slide
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Film Noir Aesthetics in L.A.C. (8)

• Examples of Claustrophobic Framing?

Continued on Next Slide
17
Film Noir Aesthetics in L.A.C. (10)

• Complex Narrative Structure
• EXAMPLES?

Continued on Next Slide
18
Film Noir Male Heroes

• Characterize Bud White as Film Noir Hero
• Cite specific scenes to back up these
  characterization

Continued on Next Slide
19
Film Noir Fe-Male Hero

• Characterize Lynn Bracken as a Film Noir Femme
  Fatal
• Cite particular scenes to back up this
  characterization. Once again, use film form
  language.

Continued on Next Slide