From Erotization to Postmodernization: Evolution of the Femme Fatale in American Neo-Noir
https://doi.org/10.58186/2782-3660-2023-3-4-169-195
Abstract
The image of a deadly woman can be traced through various works of art spanning different eras. In cinematography, her figure emerged in silent movies as a vamp and a diva, later embodying the seductive and manipulative femme fatale of film noir. While the femme fatale in noir is distinctly defined, with her features easily traceable from movie to movie, the image becomes less unequivocal in neo-noir. This article seeks to explore the depiction of the femme fatale in neo-noir, questioning whether she remains a classic noir element, a trope, or a stamp transitioning into the new era of cinema, or if she is a reinterpreted figure with a fundamentally new portrayal in neo-noir, distinct from her noir predecessor. The aim is to examine the femme fatale’s image in neo-noir and to highlight a specific cinematic code wherein the image carries a set of assumptions and expectations, enabling the viewer to identify the femme fatale. Despite associations with mystery and deception, the figure of the femme fatale in neo-noir is burdened with a range of expectations. Her image is commonly understood through a blend of manipulative sexual attraction and danger, yet within this framework, more complex appeals to concepts of power, femininity, and desire emerge. The article attempts to differentiate between the ‘classic femme fatale,’ conventionally constructed in the noir tradition, relying heavily on memory and nostalgia, and the image reinterpreted by cinema in the new era.
About the Author
O. Shipacheva
Higher School of Economics (HSE)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Olga Shipacheva
Moscow
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Review
For citations:
Shipacheva O. From Erotization to Postmodernization: Evolution of the Femme Fatale in American Neo-Noir. Versus. 2023;3(4):169-195. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.58186/2782-3660-2023-3-4-169-195
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