sholio | Clair pocket universes in a noir universe

Reposting this from the original post on Tumblr in case my Tumblr vanishes, because I want to save this.

--

I stumbled across an interesting post today that described something I’ve always loved (actually many of the things I love the most are basically this) but I never really had a good way to describe it before. The post is here, and it’s talking about “clair” (light/bright) as the opposite of noir, in fiction:

clair as opposed to noir [...] a world where a lot of the characters are good and can be won over by goodness

But clair by itself is not something I’m really that into (the book the post is talking about, Goblin Emperor, I actually found rather dull, probably for that reason -- I wanted more interpersonal conflict, more of an edge).

What really resonated with me was one of the comments:

I think for me it's a different but related thing that makes or breaks Noir universes -- not so much the kind acts that stand out as relationships in a universe that doesn't reward kindness/decency and stomps on vulnerability. Like, it's almost as if two people or a Found Family band create a miniature Clair pocket universe just between them where they are kind and decent to each other, often within the trappings of the larger Noir universe, and because it's such a contrast to the world at large, that relationship shines all the brighter.

And I went, YES. THAT. I’m not generally that into “clair” fiction as such -- universes where things are basically Good and people are always decent often end up boring me a little bit. I think I’m innately more drawn to the Star Wars type of fiction than the Star Trek type (I mean, I like both of those things -- Star Trek is the one that actually made much more of an impression on me as a kid -- but as far as the general philosophy of the two universes, and which one resonates harder with me, it’s Star Wars all the way).

But characters who create little Clair pocket universes in an otherwise uncaring universe -- where the universe itself is at best meaningless and indifferent to human endeavor, and at worst a hostile suck-hole, but the characters themselves manage to forge bonds of optimism and kindness in the middle of all of that (especially if they have to overcome their own innate selfishness and cynicism to do it), and they are loyal to each other even in the face of the universe’s attempts to tear them apart ... I am GONE for that, just totally gone. :D