From Exodus and the Plagues of Egypt, The Iliad &The Odyssey, through Restoration dramas, to " Stagger Lee" and "Bad,Bad Leroy Jones": Tales of vengeance have been a part of literature as long as there has been language. The persistent appeal of these themes speaks to something very basic to the psyche.
Is forgiveness better than retribution? Perhaps. But art must honestly illuminate human nature before there can be even a hope of changing it.
I love that you brought this up. I've noticed a variety of answers when I ask a crime writer "why do you write crime stories?" Most traditional/cozy writers talk about justice, feeling there isn't enough in the real world so they want to create some. Noir writers tend to just laugh at me and take another drink.
For me, it's all about exploring the gap between who we are and who we say we are (part of my definition of "noir"). I like to think of it as the opposite of the authoritarian impulse (which we all have--never met a person who couldn't answer the question "what would you do if you were king of the world?") but I could just be kidding myself.
That's rich they call the 1932 Lindbergh kidnapping case "ongoing." Even the baby would most likely have died of old age by now, let alone any adult involved.
From Exodus and the Plagues of Egypt, The Iliad &The Odyssey, through Restoration dramas, to " Stagger Lee" and "Bad,Bad Leroy Jones": Tales of vengeance have been a part of literature as long as there has been language. The persistent appeal of these themes speaks to something very basic to the psyche.
Is forgiveness better than retribution? Perhaps. But art must honestly illuminate human nature before there can be even a hope of changing it.
I love that you brought this up. I've noticed a variety of answers when I ask a crime writer "why do you write crime stories?" Most traditional/cozy writers talk about justice, feeling there isn't enough in the real world so they want to create some. Noir writers tend to just laugh at me and take another drink.
For me, it's all about exploring the gap between who we are and who we say we are (part of my definition of "noir"). I like to think of it as the opposite of the authoritarian impulse (which we all have--never met a person who couldn't answer the question "what would you do if you were king of the world?") but I could just be kidding myself.
Point is, love this essay, thanks!
That's rich they call the 1932 Lindbergh kidnapping case "ongoing." Even the baby would most likely have died of old age by now, let alone any adult involved.
Strains of Warren Zevon wandering through my head...