The Role of Women in Classic Film. This paper discusses the role of women in Hollywood's classic film. It has been written that, in art, there are generally two archetypal female characters: the whore and the Madonna. In the following pages I will argue that, in Hollywood's classic film noir period, there was often little distinction between the two. In The Maltese Falcon's, Brigid O'Shaughnessy and Sunset Blvd.'s, Norma Desmond, we find two women who are equal parts spider woman and maternal virgin. These two characters represent a historical period in America when women were just beginning to come into their own, and as a result the characters seem conflicted about which societal role to play, often choosing to utilize whatever label suits their needs at the moment. This type of fickleness can be summed up in one word: Manipulation. Pages: 5 Bibliography: 2 source(s) listed Filename: 316 Women Classic Film.doc Price: 44.75

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