The Femme Fatale in Art, Film, and Pop Culture, 1890 to Now

About the Class

An enduring cultural archetype, the femme fatale is a woman whose sexual allure is both irresistible and dangerous—exemplified by biblical figures like Judith and Salome and the iconic vamps of Double Indemnity and Fatal Attraction. Through an interdisciplinary study of painting, film, television, and other visual media, this course traces the evolution of the femme fatale across Europe and the United States, exploring how the figure has embodied cultural anxieties surrounding gender, power, morality, and wealth.

We’ll begin in late 19th-century Europe, when the image of the destructive temptress took hold in the modern imagination, examining works by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Gustave Moreau, Franz von Stuck, Edvard Munch, and others. We’ll then turn to postwar American film noir, where the femme fatale came to dominate the screen in performances by Barbara Stanwyck and Rita Hayworth. Finally, we’ll explore reinterpretations from the 1970s to the present, considering how artists, filmmakers, musicians, and television creators have challenged, subverted, and reinvented the archetype.

Drawing on feminist theory and visual culture studies, our discussions will address topics including the male gaze, female agency, and the complex relationship between desire, danger, and power.

The class is online-only. More about online classes.

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Barnes classes will:

• Sharpen your observational and critical-thinking skills.
• Improve your ability to communicate about art.
• Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.

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What Students Are Saying

“Joe Tokumasu Field was a wonderful instructor. He’s patient, caring, and skilled at interacting with students’ questions and comments.” —The Japanese American Century with Joseph Tokumasu Field

“This was an exciting course with fascinating and informative lectures and well-chosen pictures. Franits is a brilliant teacher.” —17th-Century Dutch Art’s “Holy Trinity”: Hals, Rembrandt, and Vermeer with Wayne Franits

“The instructor was outstanding in every way—an expert in the subject, enthusiastic about the material, solicitous and supportive of students’ observations, and brilliant in expanding our discussion as warranted. The best Barnes instructor I’ve had, by far.” —The Nabis: Late 19th-Century Prophets of the New with Larissa Bailiff

“I enjoyed the course very much and liked how each week focused on a different topic relevant to the subject. Caterina is an engaging speaker, and you can tell she loves what she is teaching. Her enthusiasm and sense of humor come through.” —Famous Heists: Crimes in the History of Art with Caterina Pierre

“I felt at peace afterward and appreciated the art so much more than before.” —Being Present with Art: Cultivating Balance for Spring with Roksana Filipowska