1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910485050703321

Autore

Short Sue

Titolo

Darkness Calls : A Critical Investigation of Neo-Noir / / by Sue Short

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Palgrave Macmillan, , 2019

ISBN

3-030-13807-0

Edizione

[1st ed. 2019.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (VIII, 261 p. 1 illus.)

Disciplina

791.436

791.4365

Soggetti

Film genres

Culture

Gender

Genre

Culture and Gender

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di contenuto

1. Introduction: in pursuit of the neo-noir -- 2. Crime, corruption and social critique: a thematic overview of noir -- 3. Conflict and crisis: masculinity and noir -- 4. Fear and fantasy: women in noir -- 5. Noir by any other name?: generic confusion and diffusion -- 6. A lighter shade of noir: differing uses of comedy -- 7. Fatalism vs free will: nihilism and noir.

Sommario/riassunto

This book examines the contrasting forms neo-noir has taken on screen, asking what prompts our continued interest in tales of criminality and moral uncertainty. Neo-noir plots are both familiar and diverse, found in a host of media formats today, and now span the globe. Yet despite its apparent prevalence—and increased academic attention—many core questions remain unanswered. What has propelled noir’s appeal, half a century on after its supposed decline? What has led film-makers and series-creators to rework given tropes? What debates continue to divide critics? And why are we, as viewers, so drawn to stories that often show us at our worst? Referencing a range of films and series, citing critical work in the field—while also challenging many of the assumptions made—this book sets out to



advance our understanding of a subject that has fascinated audiences and academics alike. Theories relating to gender identity and neo-noir’s tricky generic status are discussed, together with an evaluation of differing comic inflections and socio-political concerns, concluding that, although neo-noir is capable of being both progressive and reactionary, it also mobilises potentially radical questions about who we are and what we might be capable of.