Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation
12-2011
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Department
English
Committee Chair
Jaffe, Aaron
Author's Keywords
Noir; Los Angeles; Badiou; Alain; Ontology; Chinatown (film); Himes; Chester
Subject
Sociology, Urban--California--Los Angeles; Urbanization--California--Los Angeles; Ontology--Social aspects; Social epistemology
Abstract
Noir Ontology: Existing in the Fragmented Urban Spaces of Los Angeles explores the role of decentered urban geography within the body of noir texts set within Los Angeles. By focusing on the development of the idea of Los Angeles in early to mid-Twentieth century literature and film, this essay argues that Alain Badiou's system of ontology provides a critical apparatus for investigating the many ways in which the Los Angeles sunshine myth organizes the relations between individuals within particular urban spaces. Through an analysis of the city's early cultural history, Roman Polanski and Robert Towne's film Chinatown, and Chester Himes's novel If He Hollers Let Him Go, this project develops the concept of an LA noir ontology that expresses a suspicion towards post-industrial urban development and the modifications that it makes to everyday life while echoing Badiou's contemporary critique of the role capitalism in contemporary globalized society.
Recommended Citation
Goessling, Jacob Andrew, "Noir ontology : existing in the fragmented spaces of Los Angeles." (2011). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 507.
https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/507
