November 15, 2004 Noir Folding

Noir is a special case of folding. Normally, the primary level difference is between the world of the viewer (nominally the "real" world) and the world of the film. So the real world is at the top and every level below is abstracted away from reality.

Noir depends on mystery. The mystery genre is a game between the writer and the viewer for control over the reality of the film. Its the most significant evolution in the written narrative and laid the groundwork for all sorts of narrative devices, like irony and noir.

Noir posits a layer beyond the world of the viewer, higher in the abstraction hierarchy. This layer consists of something beyond logic where there is an illogical, capricious fate that toys with us.

(Harder as more real)

A noir film automatically starts with two levels beyond the film, both of which fight for control. In noir, we the viewer usually have a representative in the story, a detective who tries to deal with the combination of sense and nonsense.

Examples:

Kiss Me Deadly (1955)

Touch of Evil, A (1958)

Long Goodbye, The (1973)