Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Gender Studies and Sexuality
Year: 2024
DOI:
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From Fraulein to Femme Fatale: A Study of Sexuality, Desire, and the “New Woman” in German Expressionist Cinema
Aryaa Singh
ABSTRACT:
This study explores the mutually reinforcing relationships between female representation and cultural dynamics in Weimar Republic-era German Expressionist cinema (1919–1933). The study analyses three films, namely, Genuine by Robert Wiene (1920), Warning Shadows by Arthur Robinson (1923) and Metropolis by Fritz Lang (1927), using qualitative analysis of content and feminist film theory, emphasising the concepts of sexuality, desire, and the birth of the “New Woman.” The research sheds light on the role of cinema in reflecting and creating changing ideas about femininity by investigating how female characters were portrayed and placing these portrayals within a changing socio-cultural landscape. The analysis highlights how these films successfully navigated the intricate relationship between public perceptions towards gender and sexuality, having a long-lasting influence on cultural discourse that still survives.
keywords: German Expressionist Cinema, sexuality, gender roles, “New Phallic Woman”, Female Emancipation, Techno-sexuality