FEMME FATALE OR VICTIM?

The film noir movies of the 1940’s and 50’s often portrayed women in obvious stereotypical roles of either the seductive femme fatale, who used beauty, manipulation, and cunning to achieve her narcissistic agenda, or as the devoted martyr, an unsuspecting victim of male dominance. Often in these films, both stereotypical characters resorted to murder, whether through greed, retaliation and defiance, or as an only means of escape. 

One could argue the genre was equally critical of men, portraying most as ruthlessly evil and reckless, or weak and ineffectual (disabled or amnesiac). Sometimes the stereotypes were blurred, such as in the movie “Gilda,” with Rita Hayworth’s character described as equal parts beguiling seductress and helpless prisoner.  My painting “Blue Dahlia” was inspired by her character. 

 

 

Art in general reflects society. The art of 1940’s & 50’s film noir not only demonstrated an aberration of societal gender roles as individuals, relationship roles as couples, and decay of family values, but also portrayed the world in which we live as hopelessly, dangerously corrupt and void of all morality. The films exemplified these motifs by using exaggeration and melodrama. Pervading themes of alienation and insecurity were used as metaphors to reflect western civilization’s nihilistic postwar views, fears, and uncertainties about what the future would bring, essentially a society in upheaval.

Do I believe the film-making of the era surmised the entirety of western society’s view of the world? No, as a good many musicals and uplifting movies were equally produced during this same time period. I think that film noir reflected one point of view and that it is a powerful vehicle for contemplation of our society at that particular time, and because of this, it remains a compelling source of creative inspiration.

"I cannot conceive any work of art as having a separate existence from life itself." -Antonin Artaud -

The painting above is entitled, "Slightly Scarlet" from the film of the same. Representing the good and innocent, it is part of a series of 5 new works defining the role of women in film noir.