Breaking Boundaries: Noir, New Technologies, and the Power of Representation

Wednesday 6 September | 19:00 | National Centre for Writing, Dragon Hall, Norwich

We welcome Margot Douaihy for the annual Noirwich lecture to examine the intersection of noir, new technologies, and inclusivity. The discussion offers a critical exploration of the ways authors and creators are leveraging new approaches, multimodal methodologies, and tools like Virtual and Augmented Reality to create immersive and interactive narrative experiences that challenge the received canon of noir. We also evaluate how authentically diverse characters, intersectional storylines, and divergent narratological perspectives expand the genre’s boundaries and appeal.

Drawing on interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks, illustrative case studies, and new research, we explore the interplay between technology, storytelling, and empathy, and how noir reflects and shapes understandings of identity and liberatory creative praxes. This lecture also examines how innovations in noir provide new platforms for historically marginalized perspectives, contending that the evolving dynamics between storytelling, technology, and inclusivity are helping to transform the genre and shape cultural narratives.

This lecture is relevant to practitioners, educators, and researchers in creative writing, literary studies, media studies, game studies, cultural studies, digital humanities, and beyond.

Presented in partnership with the National Centre for Writing

This event is FREE to attend, but booking is essential.