At 05:21 PM 09/04/2006 -0700, you wrote:
>Transcendence often is used in a spiritual
context,
>but in a more generic sense it can imply simply
the
>act of rising above. In this second sense, I
would
>say that Christianity shares much common ground
with
>noir on the subject, in that the struggle
for
>transcendence is a desperate, powerful, and
frequently
>occuring theme. Whether the characters actually
ever
>reach this goal is moot. Whether that
transcendence
>actually exists is moot also.
Not moot at all. In noir transcendence is denied. Always,
whether sought or not.
> The striving for it is
>the main focus.
That's the structure of any story- an objective for the
protagonist and an antagonist to overcome, or transcend. And
in life mankind always seems to be striving for something, at
least in western cultures. We are not happy with the world as
we find it. In other literary genres the frustrations of life
are transcended through romance, justice, religious faith,
moral or ethical behaviour. Not in noir. In noir,
transcendence is denied.
Christian themes may be presented, but they are not
confirmed. Unless you're one of those who consider noir just
a few long shadows and rain-slicked streets.
Best, Kerry
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