To look at characterization in Neo Noir i have taken a relatively new TV series, Marvel's Jessica Jones, however with it's main story arc it could be turned in to a feature film, if you removed a lot of the minor sub plots. However i am here to just look at character.
Released in full to Netflix on 20th November 2015 this series follows the central character of Jessica Jones. A Private eye with superpowers, a drinking problem and PTSD.
Now if we compare this to the archetype of psychopath defined in Hitchcock's work, you could say that Jones' elements are lending herself to be a villain. However this is not the way.
Neo Noir prides itself on being able to use what they call the 'Anti-Hero' Archetype. The anti-hero being defined as someone who functions outside the mainstream and challenges it.
This is something the character of Jessica Jones does effectively. This is shown throughout the episodes by having undefined morals, but she has a set goal. For example she will take on cases to try and expose a cheating spouse but has the morals to look after her drug addict neighbor. Furthermore this questionable moral compass is shown again when she has no qualm about throwing herself in to danger but won't let her half-sister come to help her.
So effectively the characterization of a Neo Noir character can be argued to nearly break in to the villainous archetypes but they don't fully breakthrough. They teeter dangerously on the edge, delving in to the darker side of their psyches when they need to do some dirty work to achieve their goal, but forever trying to fix the fallout from their turbulent lives.
Bibliography
- http://www.avclub.com/article/jessica-jones-fourth-episode-gets-back-its-film-no-228752
- http://www.avclub.com/review/marvels-jessica-jones-hard-boiled-feminist-neo-noi-228436
- http://www.geek.com/news/5-things-you-should-know-before-watching-jessica-jones-on-netflix-1639767/
- http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2015/nov/20/noir-nights-and-superpowered-sex-everything-you-need-to-know-about-marvels-jessica-jones
- http://www.filmnoirstudies.com/glossary/index.asp
No comments:
Post a Comment