History of Film Noir
The Industrial Revolution, World War, and Psychology as a Field of Study
American Film Noir spans from the 1940s to the early 1950s, centering on themes of crime, moral ambiguity, and pessimism. However, at the end of the World War II in 1945, film noir shifted from interest in lawlessness as entertainment to critique of American political and economic systems, in addition to the role of the individual.
With the Industrial Revolution of the late 1800s allowing for airing of American crimes in the form of television and widespread photographs depicting the true horrors of World War II and World War I, there was a newfound evaluative nature for citizens and politicians that made people feel indirectly involved. The uproar of employment as a result of industrialization also allowed the population of the working class to expand further, ranging from the lower to upper middle classes.
Such expression of guilt and change is found in film noir, taking the form of the white male protagonist navigating through urban landscapes to mirror the struggles of war in a familiar, capitalistic setting. Also, sychology as a field of experimental study emerged first in the 1890s, psychoanalysis particularly popular among Western countries with the work of Sigmund Freud. Film noir also shares this interest in the human mind, engaging its audience through the unconcious mind with visual and auditory codes, emphasizing a multidimensional viewing experience.