Susan Hammond’s Media Studies Project Blog

Film Noir/Neo- Noir: Genre Conventions

Film noir/neo-noir is classified by the tone and mood the film portrays, rather than a general genre. This type of movie captures it’s audience by the visuals and narrative a film may have. The general theme of noir movies are fatalistic and have a cynical tone. These films are typically shot on location in large urbanized areas such as Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. Filming in these areas have gritty and realistic night exteriors. The protagonists in these films is an anti-hero, seen in gangster films, this character throughout the movie rarely achieves leadership status. The central noir character is usually an outsider, if he is a criminal he operates clone and is caught in a failed attempt. Private detectives are also center of many noir films they world in between a lawful society and criminal underworld, who have enemies and associates on both sides.

Science Fiction: Genre Conventions

In science fiction films, the focus is on humanities relationship with the technology. They show how technology emerges and how humans hate change and fear it. So science fiction usually involves, space exploration, alien life, “monsters”, and of course technology. Some common themes are, enslaving humanity, invading the minds and bodies of humans, and bringing about the end of civilization. The antagonists in these films are usually computers, machines, and Alien invaders. Meanwhile science fiction Protagonists are figuratively and literally down to earth, their existence is a liability since humanities depends on them. Lastly, the setting is usually in the future or modern times, shaped by advances in technology.

Stranger Things

One of the movie posters in this blog, is Stranger Things. This hit movie series is an example of a science fiction film. The “upside down” is a alternative world that try’s to destroy the present. The only one who can save humanity or Hawkins Indiana, is a girl with mind powers, named Eleven.

John Wick

This is a movie trilogy, featuring Keanu Reeves. This film can be classified as a neo-noir film. This is because Keanu becomes a assassin to avenge his wife and dog who were killed. As a protagonist he is no hero, but revolves around those who are involved in criminal activity.

Sources: Barsam, Richard Meran, and Dave Monahan. Looking at Movies: an Introduction to Film. W.W. Norton & Company, 2016.

Hi, my name is Susan Hammond. I am a senior at Pasco High School and a AICE media studies student. In this AICE Media Studies project, I partnered with Nicholas Gray, Fares Eltoukhy, and Kevin Foughty. Before coming to a conclusion for a film genre, we had many other ideas such as a science fiction film with gangster film characteristics. Yes, we thought a gangster computer generated mob boss, would be really cool. However, we came to a realization that would be very difficult. So, I viewed a few media studies projects with elements of horror, mystery, thriller, and I honestly wanted to do something unique and different. After speaking to my group, we decided to create a science fiction and neo-nior opening scene. My partners and I were love the films The Matrix and Inception and their theme of a simulated reality – living life in a simulated world. Although, I still want to research both genres to become familiarized with the genre conventions and I want to analyze the cinematography, mise-en-scene, sound, and editing in each opening scene, to use for when we direct our own film. The in-depth shot by shot analysis, will show the significance of each element such as the close ups, shots, costumes, props, etc., and why it contributes to the overall meaning and defines the genre of the film. Some science fiction films that I plan to view are Alien, Terminator, The Matrix, Inception, Upgrade, Ex Machina, and Ghost in the Shell. Furthermore, I plan to look at the neo noir films such as, John Wick Trilogy, The Dark Knight, Blade Runner, and the movie Drive. Also, my research will contain the target audiences of both film genres and the budgets and profits of each movie. This will help my group and I estimate what is needed for our project and the audience our film/opening scene would be recommended for. Without further ado, let’s get this party started!