THE DETECTIVE STORY WEBQUEST

TASK

Resources

Evaluations

Introduction

This lesson will expose students to one of the greatest American films and film genre, the Hard Boiled Detective movies, that shaped the landscape of American film today. Through the classic Hard Boiled Detective film The Big Sleep, students will explore the historical and social impact of the 1930's and 1940's. These learners will explore the impact of Humphrey Bogart and historical perceptions that have shaped popular culture in the 20th Century.

Subject Areas
American Studies: American and Film History
Language Arts: writing, reading and presenting research
Technology: computers, Internet, and media literacy

Students will be able to:

Learn the influences and inspirations of the Hard Boiled Detective novels and films Describe the plot, characters, and historical context of The Big Sleep Research and understand the social climate and the novels and movies of post WWII America Investigate the stereotypes of Hard Boiled Detective films and how it was representative of it's time Forge strategies for deconstructing and analyzing stereotypes in media Identify other artists and directors in the Hard Boiled genre Understand film language

TASK: To create a visual presentation using Microsoft PowerPoint, or other multimedia programs of images of the Hard Boiled Detective Stories of the 1930s and 1940s, incorporating music, prose, archival photography, illustrations and film.

Work in groups of three. First, find definitions for the vocabulary list. Then go on the Hard Boiled Scavenger Hunt and collect all the information. Finally, answer the Study Questions. Some of these questions will require a paragraph to answer.

Process:

:
1. Work in groups of three. Use the websites below to help you research Hard Boiled Detective Fiction from the 1930a and 1940s.

2. First, find definitions for the vocabulary list.

3. Then go on the Hard Boiled Scavenger Hunt and collect all the background information.

4. Finally, answer the Study Questions. Some of these questions will require a paragraph to answer.

Time Frame: Expect one week to complete this task. The final due date for all multimedia presentations is March 30th.

General Terms:

Hardboiled crime fiction refers to a literary style pioneered by Dashiell Hammett in the late 1920s and refined by Raymond Chandler beginning in the late 1930s. Hardboiled fiction, most commonly associated with detective stories, is distinguished by an unsentimental portrayal of crime, violence, and sex. From its earliest days, hardboiled fiction was published in and closely associated with so-called pulp magazines, most famously Black Mask; later, many hardboiled novels were published by houses specializing in paperback originals, also colloquially known as "pulps." Consequently, "pulp fiction" is often used as a synonym for hardboiled crime fiction. In the United States, the original hardboiled style has been emulated by innumerable writers, notably including Mickey Spillane, Ross Macdonald, and John D. MacDonald.
The hardboiled detective epitomized by Hammet's Sam Spade and Chandler's Philip Marlowe not only solves mysteries, like his "softer" counterparts, he (and often these days, she) confronts danger and engages in violence on a regular basis. The hardboiled detective also has a characteristically tough attitude-in fact, Spade and Marlowe are two of the primary fictional models for the attitude that has come to be known as "attitude": cool, cocky, flippant.

General Information on Hard Boiled Detectives Resources
Vocabulary	Definitions
Hard Boiled Film Noir Genre Femme Fatale Film Noir Light Techniques Use of Vernacular Voice Over Flash Back "Gumshoe" Hays Office Censorship Crime Dialogue Pulp Characters Sardonic Comedies Film Noir

Hard Boiled Scavenger Hunt:

Where is Bullock's Department Store? On what street is the Fulwiler building? How would one get there from Marlowe's apartment? What are the directions from Marlowe's apartment to Geiger's Rare Book store? Find a picture of Carmen from the movie, The Big Sleep. Paste it into this document. Find a Black Mask magazine cover featuring a story by Raymond Chandler. Paste it into this document. In what other major films has Humphrey Bogart been involved? Name another film in which Bogart starred with Bacall.

Study Questions:

What other movies are similar to "The Big Sleep?" Look at the list of novels in The History of Hard Boiled Fiction, and list any of the ones you've seen. How did "The Big Sleep" reflect the 1930s and 1940s? (Hint: Crime) What was special about the dialogue they used? What are the characteristics of the Hard Boiled Detective protagonist? Give at least three examples of vernacular used in this type of movie and novel. What is the "detective's code" as expressed by Philip Marlowe? Dialogue is one of the distinguishing marks of the hare-boiled novel. What examples of "tough guy dialogue" can you recall from the movie? Listen to an episode of Guy Noir from A Prairie Home Companion. What use of the Hard Boiled vernacular is used in this piece? What obvious symbols are used to get the message across that Marlowe is a moral knight traveling through the grim morally corrupt modern city? In your opinion, what was the most important scene, character, or event? Did the characters trust each other? For example, does Marlowe really trust Vivian? Give an example to support your opinion. Do you think any people, besides Marlowe, are good or bad? Is there a moral to this story?

Hard Boiled Resources
Hard Boiled Films	Authors
Hard Boiled Detective Fiction Resources Film Noir: Selected Images The Big Sleep Movie (1946) Tribute to Humphrey Bogart The Big Sleep Sound Clips Hard Boiled Magazines Hard Boiled Slang Black Mask Covers Front and Back Covers to 3rd Edition Black Mask Magazines Homepage	Hard Boiled History: Novels Dashiell Hammett The Raymond Chandler Webpage Raymond Chandler's Los Angeles The Notebook of Raymond Chandler Mystery Story Techniques Chandler's Hamlet: Imitation of Raymond Chandler Competition 500 words Guy Noir: A Prairie Home Companion Literary Parodies Assessment

Historical References
These are three excellent sites to begin a historical search comparing film and culture. Find the date(s) of the art movement then go to one of these time lines for historical and political references. From there, you can use your favorite search engine for more details.
	The 20th Century - CNN. The 20th Century - Time. The People's Century Timeline - PBS.

Hard Boiled Novel History

1929 Dashiell Hammett: Red Harvest, The Dain Curse W.R. Burnett: Little Caesar Ellery Queen: The Roman Hat Mystery 1930 Dashiell Hammett: The Maltese Falcon 1931 Dashiell Hammett: The Glass Key William Faulkner: Sanctuary 1932 Erskine Caldwell: Tobacco Road William Faulkner: Light in August Graham Greene: Stamboul Train (a.k.a Orient Express) 1933: Nathanael West: Miss Lonelyhearts Erle Stanley Gardner: The Case of the Velvet Claw 1934 James M. Cain: The Postman Always Rings Twice Dashiell Hammett: The Thin Man 1935 Horace McCoy: They Shoot Horses, Don't They? John O'Hara: Butterfield 8 John Steinbeck: Tortilla Flat 1936 James M. Cain: Double Indemnity Graham Greene: A Gun for Sale (a.k.a. This Gun for Hire) 1938 Gerald Kersh: Night and the City 1939 Raymond Chandler: The Big Sleep Graham Greene: Confidential Agent John Steinbeck: The Grapes of Wrath 1940 Raymond Chandler: Farewell, My Lovely W.R. Burnett: High Sierra Ernest Hemingway: For Whom the Bell Tolls

1941 James M. Cain: Mildred Pierce 1942 Raymond Chandler: The High Window James Gunn: Deadlier Than the Male 1943 Raymond Chandler: The Lady in the Lake Vera Caspary: Laura 1947 Mickey Spillane: I, the Jury Nelson Algren: The Neon Wilderness 1949 W.R. Burnett: The Asphalt Jungle Patricia Highsmith: Strangers on a Train Nelson Algren: The Man with the Golden Arm Graham Greene: The Third Man 1950 Ross Macdonald: The Drowning Pool Mickey Spillane: My Gun is Quick, Vengeance is Mine 1953 Raymond Chandler: The Long Goodbye William Burroughs: Junkie Ian Fleming: Casino Royale 1954 Evan Hunter: The Blackboard Jungle Ian Fleming: Live and Let Die 1955 Patricia Highsmith: The Talented Mr. Ripley 1956 David Goodis: Down There (a.k.a. Shoot the Piano Player) Nelson Algren: A Walk on the Wild Side 1957 Ian Fleming: From Russia with Love 1958 Roy Huggins: 77 Sunset Strip Robert Traver: Anatomy of a Murder Ian Fleming: Dr. No

These digital compositions must be viewed as "chapters" in the 1818 course digital sourcebook. They must be argumentative and reflect superior research, analysis and citation. Animation tells a story by moving, showing the difference between one moment and another, a previous condition compared with the result of an independent action.

Multimedia.

The integration of media objects such as text, graphics, video, animation, and sound to represent and convey information
	A	Students have used multimedia in creative and effective ways that exploit the particular strengths of the chosen format. All elements make a contribution. There are few technical problems, and none of a serious nature.
	C	Presentation uses 2 or more media. There are some technical problems, but the viewer is able to follow the presentation with few difficulties.

Collaboration

Working together jointly to accomplish a common intellectual purpose in a manner superior to what might have been accomplished working alone.
	A	Students were a very effective team. Division of responsibilities capitalized on the strengths of each team member. The final product was shaped by all members and represents something that would not have been possible to accomplish working alone.
	C	Students worked together on the project as a team with defined roles to play. Most members fulfilled their responsibilities.

Content

The topics, ideas, concepts, knowledge, and opinions that constitute the substance of the presentation.
	A	Reflects broad research and application of critical thinking skills; shows notable insight or understanding of the topic; compels the audience's attention.
	C	The project presents information in an accurate and organized manner that can be understood by the intended audience. There is a focus that is maintained throughout the piece.

Thesis

The main ability is to provide effective evidence in support of a thesis. An academic argument is an interweaving of both evidence and interpretation,
	A	Establishes a clear thesis statement, which includes a comment or argument about the subject that someone could reasonably disagree with. The presentation justifies inferences and opinions with specific examples and analysis.
	C	Presents a generalized statement about the subject that doesn't produce an argument. The project merely reports. There is some support for scholarly comments, yet many assumptions are left unexplained. Essentially, the presentation lacks interpretive connectedness.

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