Film Noir – not only for film buffs!
Since Edgar Allan Poe created the template for the modern detective with C. Auguste Dupin in 1841, we, as a society, have been fascinated by this lonely protagonist in novels and films. In this lecture we will focus on the ‘hard boiled’ tough detective as portrayed in ‘Film Noir’ (American crime films 1940-58). We will explore several key films in this much analysed film genre; these include Stranger on the third floor (1940) directed by Boris Ingster, Fritz Lang’s classic, The Big Heat (1956) and the more recent, LA Confidential (1997) directed by Curtis Hanson. The themes of loneliness, gender and psychological conflict will be opened up for close inspection.
THE ARTS SOCIETY ACCREDITED LECTURER
Mr John Francis
John is an inspirational speaker who has delivered lecturers, workshops in the US (Texas, California, Massachusetts), Beijing, Malaysia and the UK. Initially trained as a painter, John was awarded the Max Beckmann Memorial Scholarship in painting in Brooklyn, New York and went on to be artist in residence for the state of Texas. Later in his career John produced and directed several short films and animations. He has taught film, art and pedagogy at the University of Exeter, Arts University Bournemouth, University Sains Malaysia, Southwestern College, California, Brunel University, London and Kingston University. Lectures and workshops.
GALLERY 
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