What does noir mean in literature?

Noir is a kind of fiction, or a genre of fiction, that is often linked with crime stories. But unlike the detective fiction genre, noir often focuses on the point of view of the bad guy. Noir characters often have negative attitudes, a tendency towards making cynical comments, and pessimistic personal philosophies. All of these characteristics are what gives noir its unique fatalistic quality; what is the point of being a good guy if life just leads to death?
Not surprisingly, noir protagonists are often loners, and their views on life can veer towards the absurd, which helps them justify their crimes to themselves. There is little point to living a moral life if other people can't be trusted to do the same, and as other people are only reliable in their pattern of letting others down, morality is utterly pointless. This attitude often prevents noir protagonists from finding pleasure in relationships, which explains their position as loners, as well as their turning towards lives of crime for excitement and satisfaction.

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