One of the conditions used to define film noir was the disillusionment felt by many as a result of World War II. The sentiments produced by the post-war culture inspired a darker tone of film, which reflected the tired, cynical mindset of society of the time period. The influences not only affected tone, but also visual style. A stylistic element that was utilized during the film noir period was dim set lighting. Scenes would be “lit for night”. Characters and their surroundings would not be fully illuminated like in the earlier classic Hollywood era (films produced during this era were lit using high-key lighting, even at night). Contrary to popular belief, film noir was a distinct period in the history of film, rather than simply a genre, like romance or horror. While genres are dictated by “setting and conflict”, film noir isn’t as easily categorized.