Re: RARA-AVIS: Noir Horror?

From: a.n.smith ( ansmith@netdoor.com)
Date: 05 Feb 2000


> I think there is also some sort of general consensus that "noir" sort of
> transcends genres (assuming that "noir" is a style, as opposed to genre
> yadda yadda yadda.)
>
> Starting from there, does anyone have any thoughts on "noir horror?" For
> one thing, the modern horror novel is something of a descendant of the
> Gothic novel, just as the modern mystery/detective/hardoiled/noir novel.

I'm glad you mentioned this, as I am taking a graduate seminar on the Gothic novel right now, and had the same thought about pulp and noir being so closely aligned. The professor said about my thought, "To equate pulp with gothic is to do violence to both terms." Which I think is a pretty awful thing to say. Gothic and noir share so many elements, but because of the
"feminization" of gothic early on, they sort of laughed my comments off, as they were moreinterested in talking about gender issues and historical perspective in defining what gothic is. So, where I thought I was going to enjoy the class, it seems now I've been chastised for bringing up the noir aspect I so looked forward to exploring.

Geez. I still think I'm right. Thanks, Tribe.

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