to discuss Film (Classic) Noir and Neo-Noir would be like discussing two different breeds of dogs. both breeds are still dogs but each hold many traits and characteristics, some similar some different. when asked what are the differences i would say that the content has different meanings, the plot feels forced. the similarities are the content
Film (Classic) Noir is like the Mona Lisa in the sense that the artist was portraying art the way he saw life where as Neo-Noir is the art student in college recreating in their own way what had been inspired. it's not that the replica wasn't good, it's just that it wasn't inspired by it's artist it was a recreation. a replica can still show you details of the original but its a forced environment. classic noir reffers to a time where those fears were really and possible. neo-noir considers the fears of a completely different time and culture while still taking on the themes of the original.
since classic noir was a representation of how people felt or what people feared in the 40's and 50's it's plot seemed to flow unstrained and naturally. where as neo noir is someone taking the thoughts and feelings of a current time and trying to make them fit into that old scene. this completely interrupts the the sacredness of that genre and puts it into a forced position. classic noir is a true beauty in the sense that the writers wrote what they were feeling with such sincerity that you believe that those stories actually happened. although i really do enjoy neo-noir it shows me a culture i am not new to.
neo noir and classic noir are held with the same dark plots and scenes. "tough, loner private eyes, dangerous women, smoke, Venetian blinds, grimy city streets, gangsters, intrigue, deception, alienation, terse, stylized slang, and voice-over narration." these are traits that identify both sides. both noirs also hold the same characters such as the anti-hero and the femme fatal. neo-noir expresses the same scenes even though it has been made beyond that time.
film noir has a variety of characteristics that flow from other genres. i personally favor classic noir over neo noir because you get a different feeling from each film filled intriguing obstacles that feel realistic compared to that of neo-noir.
I like how you used different examples to compare everything to. This entire subject seems very hard to define so comparing everything to something else make it all easier to understand. I also found out that both types of noir have similar characteristics and opposite characteristics. I prefer classic noir also because neo-noir does not offer as much of the original characteristics as noir does. I did not have an opinion about the writer like you do but I am now going to look in to that because that is something interesting to think about.
ReplyDeleteYour examples are amazing! I love when you said,"to discuss Film (Classic) Noir and Neo-Noir would be like discussing two different breeds of dogs. both breeds are still dogs but each hold many traits and characteristics, some similar some different." I couldnt of said it any better... i really felt like you had a complete understanding of the differences between Film Noir and Neo-Noir with every example that you gave. Even when you talked about someone making a replica of the Mona Lisaand how it wasn't good, it's just that it wasn't inspired by it's artist it was a recreation. It got me thinking that Neo-Noir is just like that...Neo-Noirs just had more advanced technology but it was inspired but film noir. Overall great blog!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy your style of writing. The way you use examples to compare the different styles is really interesting and it actually makes me understand the differences more. From the way you are describing the differences, it seems that while both neo and classic noir are in the same genre, they are by different artists. I think you gave me a clear view of the contrasts between them. By reading what neo noir really is, it seems to draw attention to the younger crowed which i would think would be more interesting and others would favor more, but it's nice to see that you prefer the original. Not surprised since you compared it to the real mona lisa to a dupe. haha, great post!
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