Blog Entry # 6 (Neo noir from Classic Noir)

I only read few paragraphs on the article and the short story “Dangerous days” from Los Angeles Noir, so I am going to base my respond on that. First of all, Double Indemnity is the very first film noir I have ever seen or read. Everything that I know about noir is based on that movie/novel. As I was reading the article I learned that noir can also be horror, thrillers and science fiction. The article talks about a lot of movies I have no idea about but it seems to me that noir has a very broad categories, like how the article describe it, it is very stylish  and that’s where neo noir fall into that category an example of that is dangerous days. When I was reading it, first thing I notice is the use of words. It’s all gangsters up and very informal, I found it vulgar and offensive compare to classic noir like double indemnity where the words are more decent and picked carefully. I also notice that the settings on this novel are everywhere, an abandon house, a hotel, a parking lot but every place gives us a dangerous feeling that focus on the situation whereas double indemnity focus on the dark side area and emphasize the character’s emotions. The characters are quite a lot on this neo noir story too, and every one of them are mention by name and has a little bit of introduction even though that’s the first and last time were going to see from them, unlike double indemnity, every characters are important and plays a big role in the story. The femme fatale does not really play an important role to neo noir she cannot destroy the protagonist as much as she can on classic noir. Dangerous days is told from a third person view meaning each character is referred to as “she” or “he” “it or “they” balancing our judgment towards the characters, because we are basically hearing or knowing a story from someone who is not involve unlike classic noir like double indemnity and sunset boulevard, they have first view person and both of them are from the protagonist point of view, on sunset boulevard it was a series of flash back and a dead person is narrating it so it gives us an unrealistic idea. I also think that neo noir is in no need of psychological analysis from the audience, kind of like what you is what you get, as compare to classic noir where there’s always a subliminal message on everything that even a “moon” can dictates how the ending will go. That being said and compared, neo noir is derived and evolved from classic noir, that’s why it’s called neo noir or new black because it fits on today’s society, it’s aggressive, gruesome and full of actions. The new genre explores on life’s possible threats and danger, from everyone and every place so for me it’s more realistic and scary. Classic noir is more mellow, conservative and innocent. This transition has something to do with the constant change in our society. Both is still similar when it comes to crime that revolves around death, danger and that fatalistic effect to the audience, they just have a different way of expressing it. I personally like classic noir because it is less violent for me and more on emotions getting involve.