Introduction: Dark Passages

Abstract

This chapter makes the case for conceptualizing noir (in various media) in relationship to negative affect. The chapter first charts different accounts of noir, indicating the difficulty that critics have had in defining it. We suggest that the reason for this difficulty is precisely because noir is about negativity and thus eludes any positive attempts at fixing its definition once and for all. While we do produce our own definition of thinking about noir in terms of negative affect, we do not consider it taxonomic or something that clearly defines noir as a genre (indeed, it often fuses with other genres). The chapter also charts a genealogy of negative affect from Freud to Sianne Ngai. It concludes with chapter summaries.