2nd Blog Assignment 4

The idea of Devil in a Blue Dress is similar to other Noir films, such as Chinatown and LA Confidential, in a sense that the middle class person is on a detective mission between the upper and lower class.  Ignoring the similarities in cinematic techniques, Easy is just like J.J. Gittes and Bud White except for one major difference, Easy plays the role of a detective from an ethnic perspective.  For example, J.J. Gittes has to deal with Noah in order to get some information, but he doesn’t hold a strong relationship with him because of the difference in ethnicity.  On the other hand Easy is extremely close with Mouse, so he has an advantageous bridge over to the lower class that people like J.J. Gittes and Bud White do not have.  Furthermore, as for the argument of whether or not this film is Noir, I think it fully embodies the Noir idea with a new twist.  Although its opinionated, Devil in a Blue Dress fully embodies all cinematic aspects of Noir filming, using light and camera angles to depict racial issues, which categorizes it as a Noir film.

            In relation to our AMST class, we talk a lot about institutionalized race, insinuating a social hierarchy amongst a population.  In all these Noir films, there are the people in charge who are always white.  Then there is the middle class character that is attempting to bridge some sort of connection between the upper and lower class to solve a case.  And finally there is the lower ethnic class.  All in all this social hierarchy is clearly demonstrated in all the movies we watch and discuss.  By understanding racial issues pertaining to post World War II America, we are able to apply our knowledge and see how it plays out through film which ultimate influenced the viewers at the time.