Explain some characteristics of the genre "film noir" and give relevent socio-historical context where necessary.

Film Noir is a genre born from the paranoia of post-world-war-two America. With the Cold War well underway by the 1950s, Film Noir served as a reflection of both social attitudes and fears of the era. Male characters were often morally ambiguous, lit with noir's iconic chiaroscuro lighting to create the visual effect of a man who is neither 'good' (in the light) nor 'bad' (out of the light). Females were often portrayed as Femme Fetals, or "dangerous women", who manipulated the male heros with their looks for their own personal gain, and yet would tragically lose at the hands of a man (a reflection of the fear of female independence after the war.) Film noir's key theme of paranoia is often reflected in it's iconography, such as dark, gloomy streets coated with thick fog, and the ever present rain that disfigures shadowy characters and coats the streets in an unatural sheen.