Fatalism in American Film Noir : Some Cinematic Philosophy

Fatalism in American Film Noir : Some Cinematic Philosophy is a thought-provoking and innovative book that delves into the philosophical themes present in the crime melodramas of the 1940s known as film noir. Written by Robert Pippin, this hardcover book explores the formal and thematic elements shared by these films, from unusual camera angles and lighting to moral ambiguity and femmes fatales.

Pippin argues that film noir raises important philosophical questions, particularly about the nature of human agency. Unlike most Hollywood films of that era, which featured individuals taking action and achieving desired consequences, the protagonists in film noir often find themselves confronted by the irrelevance of their deliberations and the tragic contrast between their intentions and the actual outcomes.

Through close readings of three classic film noirs - Fritz Lang's Scarlet Street, Orson Welles's The Lady from Shanghai, and Jacques Tourneur's Out of the Past - Pippin reveals how these works explore the declining credibility of individuals as causal centers of agency. This book offers a unique perspective on the central issue of modern philosophy and challenges readers to consider how we distinguish between what people do and what happens to them.

Don't miss out on this insightful and captivating exploration of fatalism in American film noir. Order your copy of Fatalism in American Film Noir : Some Cinematic Philosophy today!