The paradox is strikingly clear: the French word “noir” translates to “black,” yet with a slight alteration in pronunciation when adapted into Arabic, it becomes nawwar, meaning “that which radiates a great deal of light.” It is less a genre than a lens — a way of seeing the world through shadow and smoke, and every character is complicit in something. It’s where morality blurs, truth is slippery, and every choice cuts. It speaks in terse dialogue and silence alike, always circling questions of guilt, fate, desire, betrayal, corruption, fatalism, and the cost of survival. In noir, the darkness isn’t just around us — it’s within.
The world today increasingly feels absurd and nihilistic, resembling a dark noir narrative. Each morning, we’re confronted with unsettling images and videos that highlight the genocide in Gaza, a tragedy that has continued for two years, alongside the drawn-out conflict in Ukraine. Meanwhile, we read statements from right-wing leaders and politicians whose views are astonishingly extreme. What’s truly alarming is that it seems as though they have collectively lost their minds — like a sudden sneeze that spreads contagion. This is underscored by an avalanche of news regarding significant advancements in global armament, starting with drones capable of delivering lethal strikes from a distance, and showing no signs of stopping there. We are witnessing developments in this arena that have no parallels in any other humanitarian sector that values human life. This is accompanied by unchecked spending on budgets for potential future conflicts, in addition to the ongoing wars currently taking place.
All of this information comes to us through vibrant screens that we hold in our hands or set on our tables, delivering information (and disinformation) with remarkable accuracy, quality, and speed. As we navigate our daily lives, we often experience tragic events just moments after they occur, creating a sense that we are actually living through them ourselves. Nowadays, every disagreement escalates into a conflict, and many issues spiral into a tragedy. As a result, feelings of uncertainty and anxiety are on the rise, and polarization deepens each day. Many people now believe that the only way forward is through all-out war. Finally, we have the last figure to consider — the orange man. How can one truly grasp the threat posed by the deceiver in chief, the dangerous times over which he presides? This is the paradox. Everything else is dark, reminiscent of the noir we once saw in films and read about in novels, yet it’s presented to us through his radiant orange hair, pale white skin, and vivid red blood. We navigate a colorful, luminous noir every single day.
How do you perceive the world today? How do you wake up each morning and what thoughts run through your mind before you drift off to sleep? Is uncertainty steering your choices? Are there truly reasons to feel hopeful about tomorrow? We’re looking for work that sits in the murky spaces between right and wrong, that questions motive and morality, that understands the human condition isn’t black and white, but infinite shades of gray, and that unravels truth like a confession under a bare bulb.
Query the editors: editor@themarkaz.org
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