American Fiction 1950-1990 Study Guide

Double Indemnity

1944, Billy Wilder

Sunset Boulevard

1950, Billy Wilder

The Night of the Hunter

1955, Charles Laughton

Bad Day at Black Rock

1955, John Sturges

The Searchers

1956, John Ford

Imitation of Life

1959, Douglas Sirk

Night of the Living Dead

1968, George Romero

Dr. Strangelove

1964, Stanley Kubrick

The Talented Mr. Ripley

1955, Patricia Highsmith

Babel-17

1966, Samuel Delaney

Space is the Place

1974, John Coney

Oreo

1974, Fran Ross

Film Noir

Postwar genre inspired by dysphoric feelings, genre created by french critics, criticizes and loves America

Melodrama

Dramatic body genre in which one is meant to cry with the woman when she cries, often with very clear moral groundworks and victim-heroes. Has threads of social criticism that have been picked up in later academic interpretations

Postmodernism

A genre representing a departure from many grand narratives and traditional storylines. Frequently interpreted as a response to rapid technological advancement and other changes in society, representing an artistic attempt to understand the acceleration of commodification and development.

Pastiche

Parody, the imitation of peculiar or unique style, neutral practice of mimicry without the intention of parody

Verfremdungseffekt

Theatrical technique meant to put distance between the actors and the viewers, meant to promote critical thinking of a viewer rather than simply placing them “inside a work of art.”

Southern Gothic

A form of art inspired by gothic themes set in the American south, commonly playing on violent activities and events in the American South.