Film noir films from the 1940s and 1950s reflected post-war societal fears and paranoia through their themes of distrust, loss of innocence, and despair. These films used stylistic conventions like voiceovers, low-key lighting, and nonlinear narratives to portray cynical protagonists and femme fatales who often brought the protagonists to their downfall through manipulation and betrayal. Within the genre, corrupt cops added to the constant theme of paranoia, while the settings, costumes, and iconography reinforced the dark and hostile tone through elements like dark streets, flashing neon signs, and trench coats.

2. Film Noir/ Comic Book Genre

3. What is Film Noir? Fear, mistrust, bleakness, loss of innocence, despair and paranoia are the themes evident in noir. These films reflect the 'chilly' Cold War period, when the threat of nuclear annihilation was ever-present in the 40’s and 50’s. A style of film that reflects the time and society which made them

4. Film Noir Conventions Use of Voice-Over Mis en scene mis-trust and paranoia Use of lighting Score Character roles- cynical protagonist -Femme Fatale - Corrupt Cops Non Linear Narrative

5. Character Roles Very often, a film noir narrative is developed around a cynical, hard-hearted, disillusioned male character who encountered a beautiful but promiscuous, amoral, double-dealing and seductive femme fatale The protagonists in film noir are normally driven by their past or by human weakness to repeat former mistakes. Lonely, hardworking and physically tough Description of a regular Noir protagonist

6. She would use her femininity and sexuality to manipulate the protagonist into becoming the fall guy - often following a murder. After a betrayal or double-cross, the femme fatales are often killed due to their own actions The Femme Fatale Corrupt Cops Within the narrative are characters within the roles of the corrupt cop. This adds to the constant theme within this genre of paranoia and distrust, even from authoritative figures. Character Roles

7. The femme fatale is most often depicted as a beautiful woman, cruel and dishonest, who is willing to do anything necessary to reach her goal. She uses the protagonist as a tool to help her accomplish some unsavoury deed and the protagonist is powerless to refuse her. Usually, the male protagonist in film noir wished to elude his mysterious and often negative past. In the narrative the protagonist has to choose what path, a new positive one or the same old mistakes. Invariably, the choice would be an overly ambitious one, to follow the dangerous but desirable wishes of the femme fatale, thus make the same old mistakes. The femme fatale, who had also transgressed societal norms with her independent and smart, menacing actions, would bring both of them to a downfall. The Femme Fatale

8. Mis en scene and iconography Film Noir mis en scene/iconography Dark sidewalks Rain drenched streets Flashing neon signs A villainous, corrupt and hostile city Alchohol/Alchoholics Cigarettes Guns Trench cots

9. Use of Voice Over/Narrating The use of voice over to narrate and explain a protagonists past and personality is a common Noir trait. This Narrating and self reflection really does give us a clear idea of the characters ideology and background

10. Visual conventions- use of lighting Film noir films (mostly shot in gloomy grays, blacks and whites) representing the dark and inhumane side of human nature which include themes of cynicism and doomed love. Film noir films were marked visually by low key lighting, deep-focus or depth of field camera work, ominous shadows and skewed camera angles. Traditionally low budget texts which allow technical experimentation.

11. Comic Book conventions

12. Classic Propp character roles A tragic origin/back story Protagonist has a side kick Protagonist has a arch nemesis High usage of special effects and over exaggerated non diegetic/diegetic sound Comic Book conventions