engleski

The Theory of Visual Pleasure in Neo-Noir

For many years, feminist film theory has been analyzing the stereotypical and passive portrayals of women, as well as their implications on the perception of femininity. Although the modern film noir has challenged the classical conventions by portraying strong and independent women, feminist theorists believe that this innovative approach was still offering a false definition of femininity. In order to analyze the way female protagonists are represented in films, this paper has taken the feminist approach, relying on the work of Laura Mulvey, who established the grounds of the feminist analysis of sexual and gender difference in relation to cinematic pleasure. This paper has offered a textual analysis of four femmes fatales in different neo-noir films. Female protagonists in all four films possess both male and female attributes. They all resist the patriarchal society by refusing to be defined in any relation to men. Body Heat is a story of a woman who manipulates, lies, and uses a male protagonist in order to escape the institution of marriage and gain money. Kill Me Again is about the woman who runs from any kind of a romantic relationship in search for her freedom. The Last Seduction is a film about a strong, sexually liberated woman who dominates men in order to get what she wants. Finally, Basic Instinct is a story of an intelligent woman who may or may not be the serial killer. By avoiding narrative forms that invite male identification, and by portraying women as more than just passive objects, neo-noir film has gained an enormous attention among critics and the audience.

feminist film theory, femininity, film noir, neo-noir, Laura Mulvey

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