(University of Oregon, 2014) Zahariev, Albena Vladimirova
Sigmund Freud’s work on psychoanalysis offers relief from the void left by World War II
and accompanying frustrations with the American Dream. In acknowledgement of
Freud’s exposition of the danger of repression, noir permits the articulation of impulses
repressed in the interest of war efforts through a narrative that functions as a
nightmarish psychological expression. Furthermore, noir engages with Freud’s work on
unconscious motives to creatively and psychoanalytically explore potential motives
behind behavior considered disordered according to American principles – such as crime
and self-destructive behavior. Noir demonstrates the strong influence of a disordering
environment on a protagonist’s actions and motives, and promotes the value of a
critically thinking “detective” who can explain disorder, encouraging the audience to
fill this role themselves. Noir’s demand for active audience interpretation works in
contrast to World War II war efforts, which demanded complete faith in government
propaganda. In this way, noir inspires the audience to themselves challenge the
feasibility of achieving the American Dream through an American work ethic, the hardboiled
tradition, the ideology of individualism, and American values and traditions as a
whole.
