Film Noir

Film Noir

Film Noir's contain many codes and conventions such as;

-Lighting

-Sound

-Characteristics

-Narrative

-Mise-en-scene,which is everything used within the film. E.g. Props, locations, costume etc...

-Language

-Use of language 

-Iconography, which is aspects of films that make the film/the genre. 

Film Noir's usually contain one light source as company's who made Film Noir's didn't have enough money to purchase more advanced technology and only had a certain amount of equipment. Due to this they would of used a single street light, a single spotlight or no added light at all. Also due to the lack of lighting this meant there were a lot of shadows within the films. The lack of lighting did cause problems as some scenes were very dark meaning you can't see things within the scene very good which wouldn't make the audience very satisfied. 

Prop wise a male usually smokes cigarettes or a pipe and usually pours themselves a glass of Alcohol/Whiskey. Detectives within Film Noir's tend to carry an identification badge to show other detectives to prove who they are. 

A detective usually wears (costume) a suite and a hat and tends to carry a police badge and a gun with them. A man wearing a suite usually gives us the impression of them being of the hierarchy. A women in these kind of films usually wear a sophisticated dress with a typical pearl necklace and wear makeup to make them more attractive and feminine.

The analysis of the language the men usually use within these old Film Noir's is rather patronizing towards women. For example, 'darling' , 'sweetheart', and 'good girl' all of these quotes are what the detective says to the main female role within the film to patronize her as it is like he thinks he is more superior than her because she is a female. The fact he calls her a girl instead of a woman is almost annoying in a sense as he doesn't see her as a grown, mature female which is in a sense a little sexist. It's almost like he is describing her as childish and soft as he doesn't say women when really she is the complete opposite and is in fact the villain, as the main women character within a film noir turns out to be the villain/killer. Females were seen as unequal and less valued/important than men so the men in these films are seen as big headed and rather rude in our perspective due to attitudes towards women nowadays, they are seen as equal to men and are valued the same. 

Whilst on the subject of women, the women in these films act innocent and a little seductive towards the men to get away with their crimes they have committed and to seem like they are the victim within the situation, where as really she is the villain. For example she is like a spider building her web (building her relationship with the detective) and creating her trap to catch the fly (the detective).

 

Composition (sound tracks) is usually used to create tension as the plot builds up to keep the audience engaged and to create an effect. For example, they may put a sound track over as action is taking place to make it more tense for the audience.