Noticing a slightly 'Film Noir' aspect in my project ideas, I decided to do some research. I was fascinated to discover the emotional connotations that can be communicated through something as simple as lighting...
film noir
film noir
noun
- a style of cinematographic film marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace.
- 'Used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly such that emphasise cynical attitudes and sexual motivations' -
Extending from the early 1940s to late 50s, Film Noir originated partially from German expressionism (1). It was a greyscale visual style of film, given its name when French film critics noted the dark themes and appearance of many American crime movies at the time. Often, through tones of fear, mistrust, injustice and paranoia, and main characters portraying violence, greed and crime, these films mirrored social tensions and issues that followed the war, contrasting the other height of entertainment at the time: Hollywood's comedies and musicals (2). Plots of Film Noir often grew on the idea of a cynical, broken male character meeting a beautiful, seductive, manipulative and conscience-lacking female. This encounter would lead to crime and betrayal, choices and desire, and the female character was frequently killed at the cost of the male's life too, after a story of twisted and passionate love (2). Some argue that because women, at the time of this film style, discovered independence and power during the war, they would suffer, instead, on screen.
German Expressionist Cinematography:
This style of filmmaking came from the German Expressionist movement of the first world war. Artists began to illustrate the destruction and pain of the war, blurring the lines between good and evil and reflecting the insanity and darkness of war and the brokenness of the soldiers who returned with shattered and ruined bodies and minds (3). Soon, producers were pumping out many movies in the same style, dealing with heavy contrasts of black and white, light and shadows, and their connotations of good and evil. The work of some directors, like Tim Burton, still displays traces of German Expressionism today (3).
The skewed walls, unsettling angles and flashing colours of the settings in the images below visually portray insanity; and the enlarged silhouette of a vampire climbing stairs effectively showing a great contrast of light and shadow.
I find it interesting how a lighting set-up can portray so much, and evoke so many thoughts in a viewers mind. Something as simple as light and shadow suddenly becomes associated with mystery, seduction, lust and manipulation - emotions like paranoia and fear are instilled. It fits perfectly with my 'penumbra' project; from the beginning I wanted to incorporate themes of good and evil, beauty and horror, etc. I now feel inspired to use lighting to really push the emotional side of my photography work.
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