California Noir
California has long been associated with fantasies of instant wealth, boundless opportunity, and self-reinvention. Fed by the Hollywood glamour-machine, the idea of the “California Dream” solidified in the 1920’s and peaked after WWII. But by the late 30’s, a shadow version of the California Dream was taking shape, pointing to a nightmare reality beneath the surface of the Dream. Expressed in the margins of legitimate cultural discourse, Noir named a critique, an attitude, a mood, a language, and an aesthetic of alienation. In this discussion-style course, we will examine some foundational California noir movies and texts.
Faculty Bio
Kathleen Moran is a founder and faculty member of UC Berkeley's American Studies Program and has taught courses in History, English, Film, Geography, Architecture and Art History. She has written extensively about American political thought, with a focus on 20th-century consumerism and popular culture. She is a recipient of Berkeley's Distinguished Teaching Award.
This is an In-Person Course
- Classes meet in person at the Golden Bear Center, Suite 202/204 (2nd floor), at 1995 University Ave., Berkeley
- Classes will not be livestreamed nor recorded
- Limited to 40 members
- Films should be viewed in advance along with recommended readings
- You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.
Schedule Highlights
- Course starts on Monday, Jan. 26, and ends on Monday, March 9
- Classes meet for 6 weeks, 2 hours per session (1-3 PM)
- There is no class on Feb. 16
- All course materials will be available in Member Dashboards through March 29