Tech-Noir Film (Book)

A Theory of the Development of Popular Genres

From the post-apocalyptic world of Blade Runner to the James Cameron mega-hit Terminator, tech-noir has emerged as a distinct genre, with roots in both the Promethean myth and the earlier popular traditions of gothic, detective and science fiction. In this new volume, many well-known film and literary works – including The Matrix, RoboCop, and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – are discussed with reference to their relationship to tech-noir and one another. Featuring an extensive, clearly indexed filmography, Tech-Noir Film will be of great interest to anyone wishing to learn more about the development of this new and highly innovative genre.

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From the postapocalyptic world of Blade Runner to theJames Cameron mega-hit Terminator, tech-noir has emerged as a distinct genre, with roots in both the Promethean myth and the earlier popular traditions of gothic, detective, and science fiction. In this new volume, many well-known film and literary works—including The Matrix, RoboCop, and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein—are discussed with reference to their relationship to tech-noir and one another. Featuring an extensive, clearly indexed filmography, Tech-Noir Film will be of great interest to anyone wishing to learn more about the development of this new and highly innovative genre.

Emily E. Auger has graduate degrees in art history and English literature. She has taught art history in Canadian and American universities for over twenty years.

Foreword by Gary Hoppenstand 

Preface 

Introduction 

Chapter 1: Method and Models 

Chapter 2: The Promethean Message 

Chapter 3: Tech-Noir 

Appendix 1: Charts 

Appendix 2: Tech-Noir Films by Date 

Appendix 3: Tech-Noir Films by Type

'Auger is an astute reader and viewer [...] it is in her detailed readings that Auger’s scholarship shines and her analyses prove potentially useful [....] both as a research checklist of a generally overlooked roster of SF films and as a valuable classroom resource.'

Paweł Frelik, Science Fiction Studies, Vol. 39

'This book is an essential resource for anyone studying or interested in the tech-noir genre. The annotated filmography truly supplies a wealth of information, with over 200 entries [...]. This indexed filmography, in addition to the final chapter, cements the book’s longevity as a reference in tech-noir studies, and scholars interested in genre studies might find a place for it in their reference library as well.' 

Angela Chiang, Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts
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