Film Noir

Film Noir is a cinematic term used to describe Hollywood crime dramas and they normally contain sexual motivations.

Film Noir is best described as a feeling through visual styling of low-key lighting and story conventions.

Stereotypical film noir - it was created by Nino Frank, who was a French critic, and typically contains a fedora hat and a Femme Fatale.

Film Noir is best described as a feeling through visual styling of low-key lighting and story conventions.

Advancements in the 1920's:

• synchronized sound 
• panchromatic film 
• better lighting 

In the 1930's technicolor was introduced and this helped to make films such as 'Wizard of Oz' and 'Gone with the Wind'.

Technological advancements post war:

• better light sensitive film
• compact lighting 
• shooting on location

Genres have had to develop quickly because the industry has developed quickly too. Film has become a large mass media. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time. As new genres are made, the old ones are discontinued.

In the 1920's there were the top 5 film studios. These were:

• RKO 
• Fox
• Warner Bros 
• Paramount 
• MGM

Disney own a large sector of the film industry because as well as owning Disney they also own Lionsgate and Universal.

Popular genres around in the 1920's to the 1930's were:

• Western
• Chap-stick Comedy e.g. Lauren and Hardy
• Gangsta Films

After the 1930's, its then that science fiction became popular.

Codes and Conventions

• Monologues 
• Narration - Non-diegetic
• Representation of women isn't right
• Damsel in distress AKA Femme Fatale
• Good guy always comes out on top
• Girl gets her comeuppance

 We can use the spider and the fly as a metaphor because:

1. The spider is the one actually in control - the female
2. She prays on the Alpha male (the fly)
3. the spider then traps the fly
4. the more involved the spider gets, the more trapped he becomes

 Genres such as; action adventure, drama, romance, comedy, documentaries and horror and thrillers brought in the mass amount of money.

Where did the genres come from?

The term 'genre' typically came from the French and in Latin it means 'kind' or 'class'. Genre refers to a distinctive type of text.

How did the 'Golden Age of Hollywood' re inforce genres?

The 'Golden Age of Hollywood' played a big part in re reinforcing genres because in the 1920's to early 1960's they made around 120 new films and sequels. some of these films included 'Scarface' and 'Les Miserable'. These were big hits and now in the 20th and 21st century they have been re created to keep these genres alive.

Which genres became popular in Hollywood?

The most popular films were comedy, action, drama ad even film noir.

Why do audiences like genres?

Audiences like genres because it helps to them to understand the film more and helps the to know why certain things are happening an what is happening.