Naming Niche Niches
Here at Haus of Fog, we hate to generalize. In fact, our entire modus operandi is to bring people together instead of dividing each other like "legacy media" insists on doing. That being said, people really do love labeling things and putting them into boxes, and sometimes it is just plain old fun to do so (who doesn't love a silly personality quiz?). Anyway, that is my extremely round about way of announcing a new column... Naming Niche Niches!
Created by Bing Copilot, based off of our conversation.
Full disclosure, this article was written with the help of Bing's Copilot. I used it to bounce ideas off of, and to write the descriptions of the listed media. Anything written by Bing’s Copilot is italicized.
New Niche Genre: Nuclear Nostaligia Noir
What is it?
Nuclear Nostalgia Noir blends a retro (usually 1940s-1960s) aesthetic with darkly humorous critiques of capitalism. Stylistically, it is reminiscent of film noir but doesn't follow the same story tropes. The Nuclear Nostalgia Noir genre is often influenced by the excitement that society felt towards radioactive things in the atomic era.
Haus of Fog is not being paid to promote the new Fallout series. We’re just really excited.
Games:
Fallout (Entire Series) (1997 - now) - Known for its retro-futuristic setting and dark humor, it’s a prime example of the genre.
The Outer Worlds (2019) - Features a corporate-dominated society with a strong retro 1940s/1950s aesthetic.
We Happy Few (2016) - Critiques social conformity and the use of drugs to control society, set in a retro-stylized world.
BioShock 1, 2, Infinite (2007 - 2013) - Combines retro design with deep philosophical and societal questions.
Films:
Blade Runner (1982) - Directed by Ridley Scott - Its neo-noir aesthetic and themes of identity and humanity align well with the genre
A Clockword Orange (1971) - Directed by Stanley Kubrick - Offers a satirical look at a dystopian future, with a strong critique of behavioral psychology.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) - Directed by Stanley Kubrick - A satirical take on the Cold War and the nuclear scare.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) - Directed by Robert Wise - Presents a message about peace and the human condition in the atomic age.
Books:
Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) Written by George Orwell - A seminal work on surveillance and totalitarianism.
Brave New World (1932) Written by Aldous Huxley - Explores the dangers of the loss of individuality in a technologically advanced society.
Bing Copilot’s Summary: These works collectively embody the essence of “Nuclear Nostalgic Noir” through their storytelling, visuals, and thematic content. They serve as a reflection of the anxieties and hopes of the eras they represent, making them fitting representatives of the genre.
ASHLEY GOOD
Ashley Good is the brains behind Haus of Fog. After directing the Foggy Isle Film Festival, which shone a spotlight on dark/horror indie shorts for the past five years, she decided to launch Haus of Fog to better reach her niche of fellow film weirdos. You can learn more about her work at ashleygood.ca.
Instagram: @ashleyegood | Youtube: @ashleyegood