What is the femme fatale role in film noir?
The femme fatale, considered by many the central figure of film noir, is mysterious and enchanting. She is known for using her mind and body strategically in order to seduce men into compromising and often deadly situations. Her character is independent with undoubting sexual confidence and a laconic personality.
What is a femme fatale in film?
A femme fatale (/ˌfæm fəˈtɑːl/ or /ˌfɛm fəˈtɑːl/; French: [fam fatal], literally “fatal woman”), sometimes called a maneater or vamp, is a stock character of a mysterious, beautiful, and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers, often leading them into compromising, deadly traps.
What topic is covered in film noir?
film noir, (French: “dark film”) style of filmmaking characterized by such elements as cynical heroes, stark lighting effects, frequent use of flashbacks, intricate plots, and an underlying existentialist philosophy. The genre was prevalent mostly in American crime dramas of the post-World War II era.
Why was the femme fatale created?
During the 1940s and WWII, many women were called away from their domestic roles in order to help with the war efforts, leading some men to fear that women had gained too much power and independence. Men feared the Femme Fatale, but women admired her.
What does the femme fatale signify in modern crime fiction and why are such characters so typical?
Traditionally speaking, a femme fatale is a woman who uses her sexuality as a means to gain power over men, often destroying them in the process. The classic femme fatale that we recognize from noir films and crime fiction evolved from these earlier interpretations of mysterious female sexuality and prowess.
What is a modern femme fatale?
These women have extreme ulterior motives to their seductions. They end up outwitting the man they’re with to get away with a nefarious scheme. The femme fatale character trope can certainly be related to a personification of a misogynistic fear of women.