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Canvas Network

TCM Presents Into the Darkness: Investigating Film Noir

Ball State University via Canvas Network

This course may be unavailable.

Overview

Summer is cooler in the shadows.

We invite movie fans from around the world to join us for a flexible, multimedia investigation and celebration of film noir.

In this nine-week course, we’ll go back in film history to investigate the "The Case of Film Noir"—the means, motives, and opportunities that led Hollywood studios to make these hard-boiled crime dramas, arguably their greatest contribution to American culture.

This course will run concurrently with the Turner Classic Movies "Summer of Darkness” programming event, airing 24 hours of films noir every Friday in June and July 2015. This is the deepest catalog of film noir ever presented by the network (and perhaps any network), and provides an unprecedented opportunity for those interested in learning more to watch over 100 classic movies as they investigate “The Case of Film Noir.”

Both the course and the associated films will enrich your understanding of the film noir phenomenon—from the earliest noir precursors to recent experiments in neo-noir. You will be able to share thoughts online and test your movie knowledge with a worldwide community of film noir students and fans.

Course Outcomes

Students will

  • gain a deeper appreciation of classic Hollywood movies
  • be able to identify the characteristics of a film noir
  • able to explain the origins and history of film noir
  • be able to perform close analyses of films noir

Topics include

  • What is Film Noir?
  • Film Noir and Its Influences
  • Film Noir in the Studio System
  • Film Noir Themes and Characters
  • Film Noir in the Postwar Period

Taught by

Richard L. Edwards, Ph.D.

Reviews

4.0 rating, based on 7 Class Central reviews

Start your review of TCM Presents Into the Darkness: Investigating Film Noir

  • Joi Merkl
  • Gregory S Welch
    I completed this course, which I loved, and received my certificate of completion, but have since misplaced it. Is there a chance I can have this certificate reissued, or is there a site I can go to where I could download it myself.

    Thank you for your time.
  • Aana
    AMAZING course - definitely on my "most favourite" list. Fantastic subject, knowledgeable professor, great community of learners, etc. I never wanted this DARKNESS to end!
  • Very fun course. I learned a lot about the history of Film Noir and its influences. The course had short video lectures, clips from films and a few quizzes to help you keep track of what you've learned. The professor was nice and very involved. The course was a really great experience. I went into it only knowing a little about Noir and finished feeling like a had a good grasp on the subject.
  • Emory Dunn
    Learned a lot about noir films and this course definitely increased my interest in cinema. The professor was very knowledgeable. There was plenty of supplemental material as well.

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