Introduction

“From January through December deep shadows, clutching hands, exploding revolvers, sadistic villains and heroines tormented with deeply rooted diseases of the mind flashed across the screen in a panting display of psychoneuroses, unsublimated sex and murder most foul”, the exciting detective film classified and stereotyped into the Film Noir genre seemed almost dead with newer genre’s taking over. However, Frank Miller’s comic book’s set in a noir style was brought to life with the help of Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. Although the question remains as to whether the new genre has been able to capture the essence of the 1940’s loved genre, Film Noir. Does the 21^st century re-make ‘Neo-Noir’ remain the same as ‘Film Noir’ or is it a misconception and has it been wrongly stereotyped into this new genre?

Essay Plan Revised

Essay Plan

"Does the neo-noir genre continue to follow the representations of the classic film noir genre, with particular reference to ‘Sin City’ (2005)"

Introduction

1) Douglas Pye (1975) - “Generic consistency allows for the shorthand of conventions and stereotypes but also for the interplay between confirmed expectations and novelty

2) Andrew Taylor (1986) - "Genre is what we collectively believe it to be"

3) "Whoever went to the movies with any regularity during 1946 was caught in the midst of Hollywood's profound post war affection fro morbid drama. From January through December deep shadows, clutching hands, exploding revolvers, sadistic villains and heroines tormented with deeply rooted diseases of the mind flashed across the screen in a panting display of psychoneuroses, unsublimated sex and murder most foul" – This article is from a 1947 'Life' magazine within The Cinema Book.

Paragraph 1 – History and Style of Film Noir

1) When did it all begin? Where did it come from?

2) How do these characteristics define Film Noir and how do they represent characters in the film?

Talk about Chiaroscuro lighting (M), Dutch Angle (M), Auteur Theory (G), Patriarchy (I, R)

3) “Back in the post-WWII Hollywood era that spawned most films noir, these movies were called either Crime Thrillers or Murder Dramas” (G) http://www.greencine.com/static/primers/noir.jsp

4) Femme Fetale – “As women during the war period were given newfound independence and better job-earning power in the homeland during the war, they would suffer on the screen in these films of the 40s”

Paragraph 2 – History and Style of Neo Noir

1) Why did Neo Noir emerge?

2) How do these characteristics define Neo Noir and how do they represent characters in the film?

Talk about Chiaroscuro lighting (M), Dutch Angle (M), Auteur Theory (G), Patriarchy (I, R)

3) Although ‘Sin City’ does not have one protagonist the character of Hartigan can be identified as the most idealized version of the classic noir detective, as he is rugged, very manly and saves women time and time again.

Paragraph 3 – The changes in genre

1) Why did the changes occur? (SHEP?)

2) Robert Stam identifies four key problems with generic labels in film:

Extension (the narrowness of labels)

Normativism (having preconceived ideas of criteria for genre) [A]

Monolithic definitions (as if an item belonged to only one genre) [G] – the item in this instance is the monochrome/chiaroscuro lighting used for Film Noir and Neo Noir.

Biologism (a kind of essentialism in which genres are seen as evolving through a standardized life cycle) – Zeitgeist; links to how film noir is of it’s time and neo noir is of it’s time [Wider Context – S, E] (Stam 2000, 128-129).

3) “The figure of the femme fetale, a further trend in recent writing on noir has been an attention to issues of masculinity”… “Frank Krutnik, 1991, and for Deborah Thomas, 1992, issues of masculinity and central to Film Noir, which they see as dramatising and exploring ‘a particular crisis in male masculinity’ (R) [1]

Paragraph Four – What hasn’t changed

1) How has Neo Noir adopted the characteristics of Film Noir?

2) The females in film noir were either of two types – dutiful (devoted), reliable, trustworthy and loving women; or femme fatales - mysterious, duplicitous (two faced), double-crossing, gorgeous, unloving, predatory, unreliable, irresponsible, manipulative and desperate women.

http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html

3) Female characters in noir films reinforced Laura Mulvey’s theory on the male gaze and the characters that played the femme fatale held the quality of “to-be-looked-at-ness” [R][I][A] http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html

4) “Heroes (or anti-heroes), corrupt characters and…these protagonists were often morally-ambiguous low-lives from the dark and gloomy underworld of violent crime and corruption.

5) Representation of women. Roland Barthes = Myth. When an ideology is repeated enough, people start to believe it. Sin City has generalized stereotypes such as men being the hero for pretty much every woman in the film.

6) Storylines were often elliptical, non-linear and twisting. Narratives were frequently complex, maze-like and convoluted, and typically told with foreboding background music, flashbacks (or a series of flashbacks), witty, razor-sharp and acerbic dialogue, and/or reflective and confessional, first-person voice-over narration.

http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html

Conclusion – Does Neo Noir follow the same representations as Film Noir?

1) Does Neo-noir follow the representations of Film Noir? If so, why? If not, why?

2) “…Low budgets and B-film status of many film noirs were seen as a priori proof that the films were 'trash” (Cinema Book) [E] http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html

Is this true? Do low budgets account for an entire genre as being labelled ‘trash’?

Reference

[1] Cook, Pam; Bernink, Mieke (2003) Pg 188

Bibliography

Stam, Robert (2000): Film Theory an Introduction. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishers
Ltd.F.

Cook, Pam; Bernink, Mieke (2003): The Cinema Book. Stephen Street, London: British Film Institute.

Cosmo Girl x Elle Girl

Cosmo Girl http://www.chineselaundrybags.com/images/InitialSet/2006CosmoSeptC1.jpg
Elle Girl http://www.meganmarysmith.com/images/gallery_ellegirl.jpg

The cover of Cosmo Girl shows a medium close up of Ashlee Simpson, she is looking directly towards the audience in an innocent way. On the other hand, Elle Girl shows OC star Rachel Bilson in a medium long shot with the camera at a low angle. With the wind blowing in her hair and her facial expression there is a sense of a provocative pose.

The background for Elle Girl is more natural and shows greenery whereas the background of Cosmo Girl is just a plain white studio backdrop. The colour scheme for Elle Girl uses mainly pinks, whites and blacks some use of yellow to highlight the special price. The pink can be seen as a typical colour to represent girls. Cosmo Girl has a colour scheme of pink, black and green, ‘Girl’ is written in a pink lipstick style conveying this magazine is for girls.

The genres for both magazines are teenage, girl’s magazines, which often have topics regarding clothes, beauty and lifestyle, similar to the kind of subjects found in the older women’s version to Elle Girl and Cosmo Girl.

Ashlee Simpson on the cover of Cosmo Girl is show to look innocent and is a celebrity who Cosmo Girl feels is a good role model for their readers. She is shown to be pretty and with light make-up Cosmo is attempting to convey it as natural beauty, so that younger readers can aspire to look that particular way with little effort. Elle Girl does the same; however, Rachel Bilson is conveyed to be naturally beautiful, as she is not wearing noticeable make-up. Rather than conveying her as her OC character Summer, Elle Girl conveys Bilson as the person she is.

Cosmo Girl is the teen alternative to Cosmopolitan; the target readership for this magazine can be identified as young teenage girls aged between 14 to 19 year olds. Elle Girl is for a similar demographic for young girls and teenagers. The ‘Girl’ in both titles of the magazines creates a separation from Cosmopolitan and Elle from which the younger magazine alternative are produced. This also shows some element of continuity, as the audience grows up they can continue read Elle or Cosmopolitan.

The tag lines of Elle Girl convey the ideology that as a girl one has to look beautiful with “perfect back-to-school makeover” and “Hollywood Style Special”. The ‘Hollywood style’ reinforces celebrity culture and suggests to the audience that they can look like their favourite stars such as “…Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan…” Cosmo Girl focuses more of the aspiration of looking beautiful with “beauty Qs” and “Amazing Abs”. With Ashlee Simpson the only celebrity on the cover it can be seen that Cosmo are down playing the celebrity culture.

In conclusion, although Cosmo Girl and Elle Girl are two different types of teenage magazines they both have some similarity. The masthead and the use of pink coloured text within the masthead allow the audience to identify these as girl’s magazines. Furthermore, the celebrities used on the cover reinforces the girl magazine status and somewhat encourages celebrity culture. Finally, the taglines of the magazines show the audience what to expect when they buy it and both Cosmo Girl and Elle Girl have articles about beauty, lifestyle and clothes often similar to articles in Cosmopolitan and Elle.

Dr No. x Casino Royale

Casino Royale (2007) http://www.lovefilm.com/lovefilm/images/products/7/55887-large.jpg

Dr No. (1962) http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000FIKU7K.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

The Casino Royale cover shows a long shot of the recent James Bond in the foreground holding a gun; the background has a bigger female figure. However, this background is a silhouette and within the silhouette there is a dark image of a casino lit up with yellow lighting and below the casino is silver car, which is parallel with James Bond suit and the grey background of the DVD cover. The target audiences for many of the James Bond films are men aged between 15-25 years old. Daniel Craig is not looking towards the audience this is similar in the 1962 Dr No DVD cover.

The Dr No DVD cover is part of a ultimate edition. The DVD cover is split into 3 sections and the top and bottom sections are in a grey monochrome color scheme. The middle shows a colored picture, which shows a Bond girl in a bikini and has just come out of the water; she fulfils the Mulvey’s ‘to-be-looked-at-ness’ quality. The foreground shows a medium shot of Sean Connery holding a gun and is looking in a different direction away from the audience.

Both DVD covers show the main protagonist holding a phallic object in the shape of their gun and also has some representation of a female. The iconography of guns and women become conventional of the Bond films.

‘United Artists’ distributed Dr No where as the most recent Bond film; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Columbia Pictures distributed Casino Royale. Both institutions produce Hollywood films, which can be seen with the use of expensive cars, gadgets and sets.

The genre for the Bond films can been identified by the iconography within the DVD covers. One icon can be identified as the gun; the gun symbolizes violence and action, the female who is an object of the male gaze, or the Bond girl, is another icon, which conveys to the audience that the Bond film can be considered an action film. Casino Royale also employs and fast car, which is often, a visual medium used in action films.

The Bond girl in the Dr No DVD cover conforms to the Mulvey theory of being an object of the male gaze and furthermore hold to quality of ‘to-be-looked-at-ness’. Furthermore, Bond being the protagonist reinforces patriarchy this also shown by the way that Bond is always holding a gun on the DVD cover.

The audience for the Bond films can vary, the target audience can been seen as males aged between 15 to 25 years old. A secondary audience can be identified as an older generation who enjoy watching the James Bond films since they began in 1962. Through the DVD cover women are not targeted however, the storylines try to engage women as they often show Bond having relationships with women.

The Bond films are well known to reinforce patriarchy values and undermine women. Casino Royale subverts the undermining of women the silhouette of the women figure is bigger than Bond, however, with his gun in his hand as a phallic symbol and the expression on his face he is conveyed to be more power and thus reinforces patriarchy. The Dr No DVD cover shows the female as a object and is present for the male gaze, this by itself reinforces patriarchy. Again Bond is shown to be holding a gun as a phallic object, giving him more power than the female.

Both covers show Bond in the foreground and a female in the background, this can convey a narrative of Bond having to overcome his promiscuous nature to save the world one more time. It also shows that the character of Bond does not see women as important thus also reinforcing patriarchy.

In conclusion, the Bond DVD covers convey patriarchy ideologies and values. Bond is shown to be the most important person on the cover, often in the foreground and holding a gun as a phallic object to reinforce his patriarchal status. The females are objectified and in the Dr No cover the female is wearing a bikini however, the most recent DVD cover only shows a silhouette of a female. Finally, these representations and ideologies conveyed through the DVD covers appeal to the male audience who are so fond of the action films with girls and fast cars.

Essay Plan

Essay Plan

"Does the neo-noir genre continue to follow the representations of the classic film noir genre, with particular reference to ‘Sin City’ (2005)"

Key	What it means
Purple	Links to Migrain and Shep
Red	Quote
Bold	Key word
Italic	Website Link

Media Language (M)

Chiaroscuro lighting – Sharply contrasting lighting where strong highlights and dark shadows are cast for a dramatic and atmospheric effect. From the Italian words ‘Chiaro’, meaning ‘Bright’ and ‘Scuro’ meaning ‘Dark’.

Dutch Angle (Canted shot) – a type of camera shot, which involves tilting the camera to create a sense of disorientation.

Auteur Theory – A term to describe the decisive, creative input of a film director in determining the stylistic and ideological treatment of a film – What you see on the screen is a reflection of the directors style rather than what genre theory represents [G]

Ideology (I)

Patriarchy – male (and also world) domination in society is reflected on the silver screen [I][R]

Genre (G)

The noir genre has “various recurrent themes” (Cinema Book), crime and murder; these are continually used in both neo-noir and classic noir films. [G]

“Back in the post-WWII Hollywood era that spawned most films noir, these movies were called either Crime Thrillers or Murder Dramas” [G] http://www.greencine.com/static/primers/noir.jsp

"Schrader goes on to suggest that the fundamental reason for the neglect of noir was the importance of visual style to the form: 'American critics have been traditionally more interested in theme than style" (Cinema Book) [Wider Context – H]

Robert Stam identifies four key problems with generic labels in film:

Extension (the narrowness of labels)

Normativism (having preconceived ideas of criteria for genre) [A]

Monolithic definitions (as if an item belonged to only one genre) [G] – the item in this instance is the monochrome/chiaroscuro lighting used for Film Noir and Neo Noir.

Biologism (a kind of essentialism in which genres are seen as evolving through a standardized life cycle) – Zeitgeist; links to how film noir is of it’s time and neo noir is of it’s time [Wider Context – S, E] (Stam 2000, 128-129).

Douglas Pye (1975) - “Generic consistency allows for the shorthand of conventions and stereotypes but also for the interplay between confirmed expectations and novelty

Andrew Taylor (1986) - "Genre is what we collectively believe it to be"

Paul Schrader suggests: "Schrader goes on to suggest that the fundamental reason for the neglect of noir was the importance of visual style to the form: 'American critics have been traditionally more interested in theme than style" – The Cinema Book

"Whoever went to the movies with any regularity during 1946 was caught in the midst of Hollywood's profound post war affection fro morbid drama. From January through December deep shadows, clutching hands, exploding revolvers, sadistic villains and heroines tormented with deeply rooted diseases of the mind flashed across the screen in a panting display of psychoneuroses, unsublimated sex and murder most foul" – This article is from a 1947 'Life' magazine within The Cinema Book.


Representation (R)

Femme fatale - “A cynical, hard-hearted, disillusioned male character, who encountered a…femme fatale. She would use her feminine wiles and come-hither sexuality to manipulate him into becoming the fall guy - often following a murder. After a betrayal or double-cross, she was frequently destroyed as well, often at the cost of the hero's life. As women during the war period were given new-found independence and better job-earning power in the homeland during the war, they would suffer -- on the screen -- in these films of the 40s.” [Wider Context, historical] [R] http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html

The females in film noir were either of two types – dutiful (devoted), reliable, trustworthy and loving women; or femme fatales - mysterious, duplicitous (two faced), double-crossing, gorgeous, unloving, predatory, unreliable, irresponsible, manipulative and desperate women.

http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html

Female characters in noir films reinforced Laura Mulvey’s theory on the male gaze and the characters that played the femme fatale held the quality of “to-be-looked-at-ness” [R][I][A] http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html

“The femme fatale, who had also transgressed societal norms with her independent and smart, menacing actions, would bring both of them to a downfall.” [N] http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html

“Heroes (or anti-heroes), corrupt characters and…these protagonists were often morally-ambiguous low-lives from the dark and gloomy underworld of violent crime and corruption. Distinctively, they were cynical, tarnished, obsessive (sexual or otherwise), brooding, menacing, sinister, sardonic, disillusioned, frightened and insecure loners (usually men), struggling to survive – and in the end, ultimately losing.” [R] http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html

Although ‘Sin City’ does not have one protagonist the character of Hartigan can be identified as the most idealized version of the classic noir detective, as he is rugged, very manly and saves women time and time again.

“The figure of the femme fetale, a further trend in recent writing on noir has been an attention to issues of masculinity”… “Frank Krutnik, 1991, and for Deborah Thomas, 1992, issues of masculinity and central to Film Noir, which they see as dramatising and exploring ‘a particular crisis in male masculinity’ [R] [1]

Narrative Structure (N)

“…Low budgets and B-film status of many film noirs were seen as a priori proof that the films were 'trash” (Cinema Book) [E] http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html

Sin City has 3 stories within the film, which intertwine with one another, subverting Todorov’s narrative structure theory and also subverts the typical narrative structure on a classic noir film. [N] http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html

Storylines were often elliptical, non-linear and twisting. Narratives were frequently complex, maze-like and convoluted, and typically told with foreboding background music, flashbacks (or a series of flashbacks), witty, razor-sharp and acerbic dialogue, and/or reflective and confessional, first-person voice-over narration.

http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html

Roland Barthes = Myth. When an ideology is repeated enough, people start to believe it. Sin City has generalized stereotypes such as men being the hero for pretty much every woman in the film.

[1] Cook, Pam; Bernink, Mieke (2003) Pg 188

Bibliography

Stam, Robert (2000): Film Theory an Introduction. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishers
Ltd.F.

Cook, Pam; Bernink, Mieke (2003): The Cinema Book. Stephen Street, London: British Film Insistitute.

Title

"Does the neo-noir genre continue to follow the representations of the classic film noir genre, with particular reference to ‘Sin City’ (2005)"

Elle x GQ

Magazine Comparison – Elle x GQ

Elle – http://www.magazines.com/magcom/covers/0/06/040/0060400.jpg
GQ – http://www.futureofthebook.org/sivavaidhyanathan/archives/gq.jpg


The front cover of Elle has Keira Knightly in a blue dress; she is posed in a somewhat innocent yet provocative manner. This has been done, as Keira Knightly is known to be quite innocent yet beautiful, perhaps what the target audience aspire to be like. Elle is read by female’s aged 25-35 therefore many are wives whom want to be the stereotypical slender, innocent looking wife but to also have a sex appeal, similarly to Keira Knightly.
The cover of GQ has Jessica Simpson on the front, which is used to sell the magazine, which is clear emphasis, on whom the magazine is sold to. Additionally, the colours connote a rugged army and nationalistic ideology due to the American colour theme used, and Jessica Simpson wearing army clothing.
Both magazines colour schemes match the month in which they are published, for instance the cover of GQ was published in July and the colour scheme uses reds, blues and green to emphasise the summer. Where as Elle was published in December and a red and white colour scheme is used to emphasise cold, snow and Christmas.

Elle is known to focuses on women's fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment where by it is the one of the largest fashion magazines. Elle has been around for many years, being known to appeal to the more sophisticated female audiences when compared to rival fashion magazines. Additionally, GQ is also known for the more mature and sophisticated male as other rival magazines such as FHM and Maxim.
GQ is a men’s lifestyle magazine, meaning it talks about all aspects of life. It covers men’s interests and hobbies. For example, the cover how to ‘be the best dressed man in America’ which covers men’s clothing and how to dress which for some men may be a daunting task as men are known to be uninterested in fashion and may need guidance. In comparison to GQ, Elle is the same magazine but for women. Elle covers women’s hobbies and interests such as, ‘hair… the secret to super-brightness’.


GQ objectifies women as they use Jessica Alba to sell the magazine, as the tagline states, “God this is a great country… Jessica Simpson” which has the implications of her being an object. Laura Mulvey’s theory of ‘to-be-looked-at-ness’ is clearly illustrated on the cover of GQ as Jessica Alba serves no other purpose except to sell the magazine on a sexual content basis where by she is wearing an American flag covered bikini with rolled down camouflage combat trousers. Her costume represents GQ and it’s audience to be nationalistic as their object of desire is bathed in American print clothing whilst most of the text is in red or blue.
However, Elle uses Keira Knightly as women of beauty, a person who can be seen as a role model where she is seen as a person rather than an object. However, as she appears to be so perfect does this really mean she isn’t an object of perfection, where she is an unrealistic idolized version of what women want to be, where by she has been manipulated in order to look like that therefore, has she been treated as an object must be considered.

The audience for both magazines’ are rather similar, where Elle caters to the middle class housewife and GQ caters for the middle class male. However, either magazine differs due to the gender of their audience. On the cover of GQ, articles such as, ‘In search of the greatest hamburger in the nation’ which shows the boyish male side to the magazine. Where as Elle’s articles are more mature and feminine, ‘How to be the best dressed girl at the party’, which shows that women care about looking good when going to parties, however the word girl gives off the ideology that it may be a mature cocktail party rather than a teenage house party.

To conclude, both magazines appeal to very similar markets and audiences the only separation in audiences is gender as both are sophisticated lifestyle magazines for a mature audience when compared with their key rivals. However, it is clear to see that a patriarchal ideology runs throughout GQ as they continuously use women as objects.

The Big Combo (1955)

The Big Combo (1955) is an American film noir directed by Joseph H. Lewis and stylistically photographed by cinematographer and noir icon John Alton with music by David Raksin.

This film noir is considered by many film critics as one of the best work of legendary cinematographer John Alton. [1]

Film Noir has been known to mostly employ orchestral (strings) scores. However, The Big Combo is one of few film noir's to have a brass score.

[1] Kemp, Philip. International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers. Vol 4: Writers and Production Artists, New York-London, 2000

-----------------------------------------
John Alton

Alton was known for unconventional camera angles—especially low camera shots. His style is most notable in the film noirs: He Walked by Night, The Big Combo, The Amazing Mr. X, T-Men, and Raw Deal.

More info: http://www.celtoslavica.de/chiaroscuro/dop/alton.html

Laura Mulvey Summary

'Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema'

1) 'Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema' written in 1973, published in 1975.

2) Based her work on conceptual analysis of classical Hollywood film texts rather than audience research

3) A typical audience member will identify, admire or aspire to the male protagonist.

4) The look from audience to Women are

a) 'fetishistic'- to be viewed excessively as sexual beings
b) 'voyeuristic' - viewed as virtuous and beautiful

5) Mirror Stage - The point at which a child views themselves in a mirror, understanding they are a separate being from their mother. A sense of narcissistic pleasure is found.

6) The original essay assumes that the film audience is a heterosexual male.

7) The original essay assumes that the film's protagonist is male.

8) Texts from 1930's to 1980's were used.

9) Scopophilia - The pleasure of watching what shouldn't be seen.

10) Narcissism - Excessive or erotic interest in the self.

11) Nouvelle Vague - French New Wave. A movement in French cinema which rejects the stereotypical way of doing things by employing experimental film making techniques.


How this applies to Film Noir, Neo Noir and Sin City
1) Fetishistic Gaze - Jessica Alba seems to be objectified and is used to be a fetish object.

2) Voyeuristic Gaze - A male audience member may admire one of the masculine protagonists.

There isn't too many links as 'Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema' was written in a sense of representation of women, and how men are dominant. This is somewhat irrelevant as my study is based on the thesis of a developed/developing genre.

10 Websites

http://www.crimeculture.com/Contents/NeoNoir.html

Definition and info about the Neo Noir genre.

---------------

http://www.crimeculture.com/Contents/Film%20Noir.html

Same as above.. about Film Noir.

---------------

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=neonoir.htm

Popular Neo Noir films, could be useful for SHEP.

----------------

http://www.moderntimes.com/style/

What makes Film Noir inovating.

----------------

http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html

Descriptions and definitions.

---------------

http://www.greencine.com/static/primers/noir.jsp

Where Film Noir has orignated from. Good for historical aspect (SHEP)

--------------

http://www.imagesjournal.com/issue02/infocus.htm

Explains some famous Film Noir films.

-------------

http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/intgenre/intgenre.html

Genre Theory website from Daniel Chandler (famous Genre Theorist)

-----------

http://www.filmsite.org/genres.html

Definition of what Genre is.

-----------

http://www.resnet.trinity.edu/wmclean/sincity.htm

This website has an article which links Sin City to Film Noir and has some interesting ideas.

Another 10 Keywords

Vladimir Propp = Binary Oppositions. Kevin is Marv's opposite character.

Typography = The font used for Sin City is particular to the film and can distinguish it apart from other films.

Male Gaze = Women are objectified by men. Marv and pretty much everyone objectifies Jessica Alba..

Zeitgiest = Spirit of the age.. which is quite unique to my text as Neo Noir is based on a genre from the 1940's yet uses 21st century ideologies.

Patriarchal Society = Male dominated soceity. Sin City is a very patriarchal film.

Hybrid genre = A film who uses conventions from two genres. Can Sin City be a mixture of Film Noir and Neo Noir or is it soley Neo Noir?

Motif = reoccuring theme or element that is repeated to give a messege.

Narrative theory = what makes up a narrative which is particular to certain genres. Levi Strauss and Propp are narrative theorists.

Barthes = Enigma Code. Sin City's narrative creates a lot of enigma's for the audience.

Barthes (again) = Myth. When an ideology is repeated enough, people start to believe it. Sin City has generalized sterotypes such as men being the hero for pretty much every women in the film.

Genre Theorists

Douglas Pye (1975)

“Generic consistency allows for the shorthand of conventions and stereotypes but also for the interplay between confirmed expectations and novelty

-----------

Andrew Taylor (1986)

"Genre is what we collectively believe it to be"

The Cinema Book

How exactly 'Noir' was defined.

Cook, Pam; Bernink, Mieke (2003): The Cinema Book. Stephen Street, London: British Film Institute.

"The first book-length study of noir (Borde and Chaumeton, 1955) began this work by mapping out various recurrent themes within noir (violence, crime, pyschological emphasis) and relating this to particular films."

-----------------

This study had to be done as:

"British and American critics failed to take film noir seriously"

--------------

They failed to take the films seriously as:

"Critics' dislike was compounded by economic snobbery: the low budgets and B-film status of many film noirs were seen as a priori proof that the films were 'trash'."

------------
Additionally, Paul Schrader suggests:

"Schrader goes on to suggest that the fundamental reason for the neglect of noir was the importance of visual style to the form: 'American critics have been traditionally moe interested in theme than style"

The Cinema Book

Cook, Pam; Bernink, Mieke (2003): The Cinema Book. Stephen Street, London: British Film Institute.

"Whoever went to the movies with any regularity during 1946 was caught in the midst of Hollywood's profound post war affection fro morbid drama. From January through December deep shadows, clutching hands, exploding revolvers, sadistic villians and heroines tormented with deeply rooted diseases of the mind flashed across the screen in a panting display of psychoneuroses, unsublimated sex and murder most foul"

This article from a 1947 'Life' magazine.

Blog Buddy Meeting Summary

Aman

Me and Aman have decided to look at definitions of what genre is. Additionally, we have decided to both look at theorist Rick Altman as he covers genre as a whole.

The next stage of research is more theorists which we can both use.

Book Research - Part 1

Cook, Pam; Bernink, Mieke (2003): The Cinema Book. Stephen Street, London: British Film Institute.

“The genre offers a ‘never-never land’ governed by absolute inflexible laws”

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Brian Murphy, ‘Monster movies: they came from beneath the 50s’, Journal of Popular Film 1(1), winter 1972

“Since we are dealing with a visual medium we ought surely to look for out defining criteria at what we actually see on the screen…”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Edward Buscombe, ‘The idea of genre in the American cinema’, Screen 2(2), March/April 1970

“By iconography Buscombe meant recurrent images, including the physical attributes and dress of the actors, the setting…”

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The Media Student’s Book

“‘Genre’ is a French word for ‘type’ or ‘kind’, as in biological classification of plants and animals. In study of the media, it involves some long-standing debates about the categorisation of mass produced popular forms, and audiences’ pleasure in them.”

Task 9 - Blog Buddies

Rohini

A Short summary of each study.

Her independent studies based on the genre change in.. musicals. =/
Umm.. yeah.. how and why the conventions have changed from old to more modern musicals..

Areas of overlap between each study (texts, topics, issues, debates).

Our studies both focus on the change and development in our own respected genres.

Task 9 - Blog Buddies

Aman

A Short summary of each study.


Aman's independent study is based on Children of Men, and it asks the question of whether it conforms or subverts the stereotypical Sci-Fi genre.

Areas of overlap between each study (texts, topics, issues, debates).

Both our studies focus on genre changes, the similarities and differences our texts have compared to stereotypical ideologies that are given to our respective genres.

Blog Buddies

Aman

A Short summary of each study.


Aman's independant study is based on Children of Men, and it asks the question of wether it confroms or subverts the stereotypical Sci-Fi genre.

Areas of overlap between each study(texts,topics,issues,debates).

What you've each learned from looking at each other's study that might be useful.

By looking at Pardeep's study I have gained some knowledge about how conventional beauty can effect how women are represented, she has also got some really helpful theorists and websites that I could also use in my independent study, information on female role models etc. Pardeep has also got some really useful reviews that brings up important iss

Self Evaluation

Attainment = A

I’ve learnt quite a bit with the use of the keywords dictionary and I now have better knowledge about key media terms. Additionally I’ve learnt a lot doing my independent study.

Effort = 2

I’ve put a lot of effort into my blog’s, presentations and other homework’s. Although my Med 6 blog should have a few more news stories.

Punctuality = 1

I’m always on time.

Submission and Quality of homework = 1

It’s always on time and up to a good standard.

Ability to work independently = 1

I work really well on my own.

Quality of writing = 1

I have a good vocabulary of media terms.

Organization of Media folder = 3

I only bought one recently and am still in the process of putting sheets into it.

Oral contribution in class = 1

I always ask questions, contribute in discussions and I am quite opinionated so I tend to want to discuss other people’s opinions.

Standard of Module 5 Blog = 1

I have done all the work set as well as doing my own self-directed research.

Standard of Module 6 Blog = 2

I’ve done all the work set, although I haven’t updated my blog with news stories as I should have.

What is Neo Noir?

http://ttwfilm.net/NeoNoir/NeoNoir.html

This website aims to answer the question, "What is Neo Noir?"

Genre Theory

http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/intgenre/intgenre.html

An introduction to Genre theory by Daniel Chandler.

This website contains some essays and analysis. I'll have to go through this website more thoroughly.

Film Noir and Fiction site

http://www.ils.unc.edu/dpr/path/filmnoir/fiction.htm

It has three books listed. I'll see if I can find these books and then I can continue my research from there.

The website itself is focused around Film Noir for people who have an interest in it.

More Keywords

Antagonist

The rival or opposing figure in a narrative set againest the protagonist. Within Sin City, there are quite a few antagonists.

Anti narrative

A non-linear narrative, where by there are flashbacks and an altered time sequence. This can be seen in Sin City as it has 3 intertwining non-linear narratives.

Archetype

An often repeated character within a genre. The film noir and neo noir genre continue to have a detective and a femme fetale.

Barthes

The engima code, it is present throughout Sin City as the narrative is non-linear.

Anthology Film

A film consisting of several different short films, often tied together by a single theme or by an interlocking event. Somtimes, each short film is directed by a different director. Sin City is an anthology film, addtionally there were 3 directors.

Ideological state apparatus

Where instutions which are established, control the state and mind set by using their brand name power, additionally they reinforce certain ideologies. The Weinstein brothers own Demension films, which means they can reinforce the same continous ideologies, for example the objectifaction of women.

Innoculation

If you repeat shootings, famine and images of war continously means this constant exposure numbs audiences down. Sin City shows death repeatidly, shootings and audiences are almost normal to see it.

Levi-Strauss

Binary oppositions. Sin City has quite a few, Marv and Kevin for example.

Objectification

Women are used for a visual purpose soley. Jessica Alba in Sin City is a passive character and is only there to be objectified and for voyeuristic pleasure.

Voyeur

A person who watches someone whilst being in a non-involved position and for reasons of self gratification. The women in Sin City are there for voyeuristic pleasure.

Todorov

Equilbirum, Dis-equilbrium and New Equilibrium. Sin City subverts his theory.

Self Assesment

• Attainment = A
  
• Effort = 1 I always put in a lot of effort
  
• Punctuality = 1 I'm always on time, even early a couple of times
  
• Submission and quality of homework = 2 It's not always on time
  
• Ability to work independently = 1 I work very well on my own
  
• Quality of writing = 1 Well my grades prove it
  
• Organisation of Media folder = 2 A little unorganized, it's okay
  
• Oral contributions in class = 1 I argue and debate a lot
  
• Standard of Module 5 blog = 2 Could do a little more book research
  
• Standard of Module 6 blog = 3 It's average, I've done the basic work set well.. but no independent work
  

WWW
Work well by myself
Do all my work to a high standard.. getting those A's [okay 1.. but we've only had 1 graded hw]


EBI
More indepedant work
Hand hw in on time
Highlight those packs before they're due!!

Clip Analysis

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RwwzVTZw6Zw

Sin City Clip Analysis

The clip of ‘Sin City’ (2005) that I have chosen to analyze can be seen as a scene of resolution. However, the enigma code (Bathes) is invoked as Marv leaves Goldie unconscious. The resolution occurs when Marv kills Kevin, the audience can immediately distinguish the proppian hero and villain.

Marv is represented as an anti-hero, this is due to the fact that he smokes and kills without hesitation therefore he does not conform to the stereotypical ideologies that a passive audience would assume him to be like. Despite this the audience can easily identify with him due to the fact that a series of close-up shots allow the audience to view his emotional struggle in order to help another person.

Sin City follows the conventions of the neo-noir genre as it often uses a conflicted antihero, who can be identified as Marv. Another convention, which is used within newer neo-noir genre films, is the use of CGI graphics where by a digital background is used in order to create the visual aesthetics. For example, Kevin’s white glasses would have been added in the postproduction stages.

The costumes used are all of black colour, which allows the special effects to emphasise on facial features, such as red lips and green eyes. The low-key lighting is a cliché of the neo-noire genre, which is further enhanced with special effects to create what is known as chiaroscuro lighting.

Non-diegetic sound is added in postproduction to create a comic book like feeling, this feeling is added to with the use of monochrome colour. Additionally, similar to a comic book, the use of narration allows the audience to understand the protagonist’s mindset, and how they’re feeling. It also allows the story to be developed, as enigmas are unravelled with the protagonist providing explanation. The voice-over narration adds to the authenticity of this comic book adaptation and follows the conventions of the neo-noir convention.

A patriarchal society is enforced due to the fact that Goldie needs Marv to save her day, which conforms the ideology of women to be subordinate to men. Goldie can be identified as the whore in Laura Mulvey’s theory of women being into two categorises, as she is visually pleasing for the audience. Thus, she is there to be objectified and has the quality of ‘to-be-looked-at-ness’.

The social ideology of homosexual’s is negative as they are portrayed as ‘girly’ and weak, for example the macho character (Marv) easily defeats the girly homosexual (Kevin). Additionally the ideology of homosexuals being girly is further reinforced due to the fact that Kevin uses his nails when fighting. This scene reinforces the ideology of a patriarchal society, and also stereotypes homosexuals in a negative manner.

Through this one scene in ‘Sin City’ (2005), it can be seen that that Marv is represented as an anti-hero rather than just a hero however; he still makes the proppian characters of the villain and hero very clear.

Delicious Links

http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html

A brief history of film noir will be useful with historical context.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_noir

An over view and breakdown of how classic noir films were structured, themes etc. This will be useful to see how neo-noir has changed these over time.

http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Modules/MC30820/represent.html

‘Representation’ explored and explained in detail, this site will help me analyze Sin City in more detail and compare it to classic noir films.

http://www.germanhollywood.com/noir.html

The connection between Hollywood noir and European noir films. This will be useful for historical context.

http://www.culturevulture.net/Books/DeathontheCheap.htm

Film noir as a B-movie again will be useful for historical context and can compare to how mainstream Sin City was.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-noir

A history of neo-noir.

http://www.crimeculture.com/Contents/NeoNoir.html

An Introduction to neo-noir will be useful to see how the genre developed.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_n2638_v127/ai_20954321

An article on "The Endurance of Film-Noir"

Keywords

Anti-hero

This is where the hero lacks the qualities the audience would normally associate with the hero. The audience do however still sympathise and can still see the story from their point of view.

BCU (Big Close-up)

A close-up shot which focuses on emotion, where by the audience can empathise with the character. Within Sin City, many close-up's are used with the 3 protagonists.

Canted Shot (Dutch Angle)

A titled low-angle shot. This is a trademark of Film Noir/Neo Noir. Sin City uses numerous times, especially with Bruce Willis.

Denouement

Where the plot is unravelled at the end of the film. The three narratives within Sin City unravell in front of the audience at the end.

Enigma Code

Created by Roland Barthes. The enigma code is where the audience are left asking questions. The non-linear narative structure within Sin City creates many questions.

Femme Fetale

In french film noir theory, a female character would use her sexuality in devious and secretive ways in order to achieve what she desires. The prostitute in Sin City convinces Marv to help protect them from the pimps.

Narrator

When a character talks over a scence. In Sin City, many characters explain and express themselves with the use of narration.

New Ladism

The male backlash againest feminism. Sin City ignores female equality and creates many subordiant female characters.

Parallel Action

Where a film will cut in between scenes to show an intertwining narrative structure - Sin City.

Post-Feminism

Where the achievements of the uprising of female equality are ignored, for example the women in Sin City are shown as subordinant and as sex objects.

Blog Comments

Basran

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4828718162097622927&postID=6959728765516944493

Aman

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=2352042809736615452&postID=1975900334439736276

Chintan

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=2574997224413995264&postID=686003823899586808

Athar

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8925104818910187029&postID=8605307040161078627

Sin City - Media Representations

Representation

Who is being represented?

Both men and women are being represented in ‘Sin City’ (2005).

In what way?

Men - Powerful, dominant
Women - Subordinate to men, devolved power where by men allow women to have power.

Why is the subject being represented in this way?

Men are represented in this way to maintain the patriarchal society even within a fictional world.

Women are given some power and can represented in this way to reflect feminism although the fact that women are only given power because men don’t want it must be considered.

Is the representation fair and accurate?

The representation of women within the film is neither fair nor accurate, with most women, if not all, are being represented as prostitutes or promiscuous femme fatals.

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Media Languages and Forms

What are the non-verbal structures of meaning in the text (e.g. gesture, facial expression, positional communication, clothing, props etc)?

Within the film, men wear long trench coats, some leather and very comic influenced clothing that is used as ‘Sin City’ (2005) is actually a translation from a comic book to a film, rather than an adaptation. This is clear as the original comic book was used as a storyboard, as well as there being no screenwriter.

Facial expressions are highlighted with the use of colour, as eyes and faces are highlighted using editing to emphasise expression. Additionally, shadows move across the actor’s faces digitally to add a comic dimension to their expressions.

What is the significance of mise-en-scene/sets/settings?

Sin City is one of the first films to be shot almost completely on a digital backlot. The film used Sony HDC-950 high-definition digital cameras instead of normal cameras. The actors had to work in front of a green screen so the digital effects could be added in postproduction.

The settings were made to re-create ‘Basin City’ which allows the audience to be able to visually see and understand the comic book city.

What work is being done by the sound track/commentary/language of the text?

A voice over is used to demonstrate the characters thoughts and feelings at the time as the camera follows the character, he or she explains what is happening and why.

What are the dominant images and iconography, and what is their relevance to the major themes of the text?

By having Sin City in monochrome (black and white) this allows the film to easily be categorized within the neo-noir genre. Furthermore, the opening scene uses the classic film noir iconography of a male detective in a trilby (hat) and trench coat.

What sound and visual techniques are used to convey meaning (e.g. camera positioning, editing; the ways that images and sounds are combined to convey meaning)?

Shots of characters at a high-angle put the audience in a lower status to the actual character. Therefore the director forces the audience to become the villain rather than the hero.

The use of chiaroscuro lighting also allows the director to convey meaning through facial expressions; the use of closes-ups further reinforces this idea. The director also uses colour in certain scenes this visual technique allows him to emphases characters and shows their importance within the narrative at a certain time.

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Narrative

How is the narrative organised and structured?

Sin City is structured as having 3 stories within one film. All three stories intertwine subverting Todorov’s narrative structure theory.

How is the audience positioned in relation to the narrative?

The audience are forced to identify with the heroes in each story/chapter as they narrate the story.

How are characters delineated? What is their narrative function? How are heroes and villains created?

Hero’s and villains are created as once the audience follow a particular character around, for instance Marv, the audience learn to understand him through his voice over and through his actions. Which means that when the audience see characters such as Kevin fighting with Marv, they can immediately recognize who is the villain.

What techniques of identification and alienation are employed?

An important scene, which creates identification, is where Marv is driving alone at night by himself. This allows the audience to understand his feelings and to create a link with themselves and Marv. Additionally, the fact that Marv is usually by himself and helps out other people allows an ideology of alienation from others.

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Genre

To which genre does the text belong?

Neo-noir.

What are the major generic conventions within the text?

Murder or a crime is the key element of almost all film-noir/neo-noir films. The proppian hero takes out an investigation in all film-noir/neo-noir films.

What are the major iconographic features of the text?

Chiaroscuro lighting, guns, crime, detectives and smoking cigarettes.

What are the major generic themes?

Crime and murder.

To what extent are the characters generically determined?

The characters are set out generically, as the detective is identified rather easily as well as the femme fatals as others are.

To what extent are the audience’s generic expectations of the text fulfilled or cheated by the text? Does the text conform to the characteristics of the genre, or does it treat them playfully or ironically?

The generic expectations are fulfilled as the detective is rugged, very manly and saves women time and time again. This ideology is expected and fulfilled.

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Media Institutions

What is the institutional source of the text?

Dimension films

In what ways has the text been influenced or shaped by the institution, which produced it?

They’re known for their violent and gritty films, which mean they would be expected to have fictional world based movies.

Is the source a public service or commercial institution? What difference does this make to the text?

A commercial institution would mean that they don’t have to conserve what they show and a mass appeal isn’t necessary.

Who owns and controls the institution concerned and does this matter?

The Weinstein brothers own this institution and as they own Miramax, it means that an Art-house style movie was bound to be produced by this institution.

How has the text been distributed?

MGM distribute films as of March 2006.

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Media Audiences

To whom is the text addressed? What is the target audience?

What assumptions about the audience’s characteristics are implicit within the text?

What assumptions about the audience are implicit in the text’s scheduling or positioning?

In what conditions is the audience likely to receive the text? Does this impact upon the formal characteristics of the text?

What do you know or can you assume about the likely size and constituency of the audience?

What are the probable and possible audience readings of the text?

How do you, as an audience member, read and evaluate the text? To what extent is your reading and evaluation influenced by your age, gender, background etc?