29th August 2005, 11:22 PM
Generally speaking "noir" refers to any kind of mystery/police novel/film that's darker in theme and atmosphere than traditional mystery novels ("noir" means "black" in French). For example while a traditional mystery novel might involve a detective and his sidekick investigating and eventually solving a crime, a novel with noir elements might kill off the sidekick in a freak accident - ie with no moral reason for him to die, and as lazy said causing the main character to become introspective and question life, the universe and everything.
Whereas traditional mystery novels are, almost by rule, "fair" and incorporate a Victorian sense of justice and morality, noir novels and films focus on the unfair and unpredictable aspects of the criminal world.
I took a police literature class last semester
Whereas traditional mystery novels are, almost by rule, "fair" and incorporate a Victorian sense of justice and morality, noir novels and films focus on the unfair and unpredictable aspects of the criminal world.
I took a police literature class last semester