Representation
Representation refers to how the characters are represented within their roles in a film. For example, considering the aspect of gender, a femme fatale would be represented as a mysterious, cunning and controlling character whilst pretending to be innocent, sensitive, classy woman. By acting in such a way men would be attracted to the femme fatale as she seems to be rather sweet and beautiful when in fact she is playing them to either gain power, money or to get away with her actions. A femme fatale are popular in film noirs due to the unexpected twist of the woman being a villain as men used to be seen as more powerful, controlling and dominant whereas it's actually the woman/femme fatale that has the most power, control and is more dominant because she has men wrapped around her finger, doing whatever pleases her. By putting on an identity she manages to win the men over which helps in favor of her acts if she has committed a crime, for example, murder. If detectives in film noirs fall for her, that is exactly what she wants/has planned so they think she would never commit such a bad/vile crime. A metaphor can be expressed, the woman being a spider creating her web and the detective being the fly, which shows her plans to real them in to win them over. Also The Black Widow spider could be used to represent the femme fatale as they tend to real them in to get what they want and then kill them off, acting like the Black Widow spider would when hunting prey. This shows how selfish and self centered femme fatale's are, willing to whatever possible to get what they seek/want. Women would be seductive to men which would of lead them into her trap, focusing on beauty and what men want.
The femme fatale usually dresses rather classy so people would think she is of a higher class than she may actually be and can be trusted. Men would be attracted to such a women, if she dresses and acts in this way, men will be charmed by her beautiful, intelligent and sweet personality but of course it's all an act.
During the 1940's women were thought to be not as well off as men, were just here to please men and were seen as sweet and innocent, this is completely the wrong judgement and such films proves this. Women can be just as dominant and controlling as men, gender does not interpret peoples personality. As men thought women were all like this they wouldn't of even considered a woman being able to commit such terrible crimes and wouldn't think they were capable of being so sneaky and cunning.
