Whereas classic film noir (French for “black film”) typically defines movies — mostly crime dramas — depicting moral ambiguity that were released in the 1940s and 50s, the neo-noir genre has been borne out of America’s disillusionment with societal institutions and the search for our “identity” as opposed to any particular culprit. From issues involving artificial intelligence and what it means to be human (raised in Ridley Scott’s classic sci-fi tale Blade Runner) to those of distorted memories (Memento) and nihilism (Fight Club), we’ll examine the world of neo-noir cinema. My guest is Mark Conard, associate professor of philosophy at Marymount Manhattan College and editor of the book Philosophy of Neo-Noir, a collection of essays that explore the philosophical foundations of neo-noir through film. [Originally broadcast on WLUW’s Under Surveillance in February 2009.]
- February 9, 2009
The World of Neo-Noir Film, w/guest Mark Conard
Kevin Fullam is a writer and researcher, with extensive experience in fields ranging from sports analytics to politics and cinema.
In addition, he has hosted two long-running radio series on film and culture, and taught mass media at Loyola University.
Episodes of his two shows, Split Reel and Under Surveillance, are archived on the Radio page.