Los Angeles is the setting for most pulp fiction stories and film noir creations because it didn’t have a long history to anchor it to reality. In truth, it was an ugly spot in the desert, but through creative invention of history, money of rich real estate investors who were able to bring necessities of modern life like water and the railroad, and slick advertising via the power of the press, it was transformed. Hip begs for reinvention and LA was an empty canvas ready to be filled.
Los Angeles is the city of broken dreams. People went there all the time to reinvent themselves. Some were successful; many were not. Add to this the fact that the “work” these dreamers performed – becoming someone entirely different with each project they completed – must have seemed nearly a personal affront to the hard-working all-American male factory-worker pulp fiction audience. How dare they go play on a stage and call that work?!?!
The genre of pulp fiction seized on the disillusionment that was so much a part of LA dreams and pointed out that even though the city might be a place for dreams to come true, it was just as likely to disappoint. By painting it as a dark, sinister place, the authors seem to be saying that it is not just actors and actresses who can be reinvented with each character they play, but the backdrop itself can be reinvented to become something that seems out of character at first glance with what is expected.
By taking the pretty face of Los Angeles and beating it to a pulp by portraying it as ugly, violent and dangerous, pulp fiction writers and film noir creators made the city itself a character. Which is really hip . . . what should have served as a setting instead was reinvented as a character. If that’s not hip, what is?
Wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteI especially like the idea of transformation, and the ugly underbelly that transformation sometimes comes with.