Overview

In the past two decades, African American filmmakers like Spike Lee have made significant contributions to the dialog about race in the United States by adapting techniques from classic film noir to black American cinema. ""Philosophy, Black Film, Film Noir"" is the first to examine these artistic innovations in detail from a philosophical perspective informed by both cognitive film theory and critical race theory. Flory shows how these films scrutinize the state of race in America, induce their viewers to do so as well, and illuminate the ways in which categories of race have defined and continue to direct much of our vision of the moral self and what counts as appropriate moral sensibility.

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9780271033457

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Reviews

Flory argues that while some examples of film noir articulate reactionary perspectives on social order, the genre can also promote perspectives critical of social inequality and offer insights into the racialized structures of American culture. - D. W. Rothermel, Choice The darkness of film noir was always meant to illuminate as well as reflect the shadows of the mean streets of Gangland USA. Now, in this fascinating synthesis of philosophy, film studies, and critical race theory, Dan Flory reveals to us the significance of the deeper blackness of African American noir - a light 'doubly' black aimed at exposing the larger crimes of White America itself. - Charles W. Mills, Northwestern University, and author of The Racial Contract

Author Information

Dan Flory is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Montana State University.

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