The Femme Fatale

Ostensibly the villain, but also a model of female power, poise, and intelligence, the femme fatale embodies Hollywood’s contradictory attitudes toward ambitious women. But how has the figure of the femme fatale evolved over time, and to what extent have these changes reflected shifting cultural attitudes toward female independence and sexuality?

This book offers readers a concise look at over a century of femmes fatales on both the silver screen and the TV screen. Starting with ethnically...