Film Matters: Please tell us about your article that is being published in Film Matters.
Sean Carson: My article is an analysis of the spectrum of film noir heroes as depicted in Fred Zinnemann’s Act of Violence. I argue the film mirrors the ideological contentions facing returning Second World War veterans. These individuals attempt to attain the American dream while maintaining a moral integrity that clashes with the socially Darwinist actions required to attain the ideal American lifestyle.
FM: What research and/or methodologies do you incorporate in your article?
SC: The bulk of my research is from Alain Silver and James Ursini’s anthology of essays Film Noir Reader. However, being conscious of needing to accurately define American ideology and understand the historic context surrounding Act of Violence, I used the Film and Television Literature Index database and the University of Alberta’s Rutherford Humanities and Social Sciences library.
FM: Describe the original context for/when writing this article while an undergraduate student.
SC: Originally, this essay was the main assignment for a film noir course I had taken during my second year of studies. From all the films studied, students had the pick of the litter and free rein to create a topic to write on, that is, providing students consulted and gained consent from our instructor. What attracted me to write on Act of Violence was how it so strongly conveyed equally American, yet still contentious ideological perceptions within early postwar American society.
FM: How has your department and/or institution supported your work in film and media?
SC: The department of English and Film Studies has allowed me to take a number of courses on a variety of film subjects. Additionally, the department has produced an atmosphere that is welcoming and instructive.
FM: How have your faculty mentors fostered your advancement as a film scholar?
SC: I have often struggled with writing and I have found help from the faculty, through the many film studies courses I have taken and with the mentors who have taken the time to help me. In all, they have aided me in improving my writing and have challenged me to think more critically.
FM: How has the Film Matters editorial and publication process impacted the development/evolution of your article?
SC: The editing process has challenged me to be more exacting in what I am trying to say. It has required me to critique what I assume to know and as I evolved the articulation in my article it necessitated an evolution in self-reflection.
FM: What audience do you hope to reach with your Film Matters article and/or what impact do you hope it has on the field of film studies?
SC: In general, I would like to reach anyone who has an interest in film noir and I hope I have contributed to the discourse in understanding the complexity of noir protagonists. In doing so, I hope my article shows how noir protagonists can often act as hidden gems in providing a neglected, yet clear expression of the sociocultural context within a film’s time of production.
FM: What are your future plans?
SC: I have a diverse array of potential goals that I have yet to decide upon. I have serious interest in starting a business, or continuing my academic career. Either way, I also intend to start making films of my own.
Author Biography
From Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Sean Carson started his academic career in 2013 by spending a year in Los Angeles to learn filmmaking. In 2015 he became an undergraduate student at the University of Alberta, where he is majoring in Film Studies with a minor in English.
