cliterature

I might have something more substantive to say tomorrow but it occurs to me that I talked about howTheda Bara is most famous for what are essentially pin-up shot.  But then I didn’t show you any.  But to recognise that there was indeed a person behind the sex object I will also provide some of her better known statements. 

I am also throwing in a little Servalan (a character played by Jacqueline Pearce)… just because.  And by ‘just because’ I mean that female characters that are powerful, sexual and unapologetic are hard to come by and need to be appreciated more. (Oh, and because 80’s costuming has to be seen to be believed).

The quotations are in bold, my comments are in italics.

 Theda Bara

The reason good women like me and flock to my pictures is that there is a little bit of vampire instinct in every woman. Not to mention any man too….

To understand those days, you must consider that people believed what they saw on the screen….Audiences thought the stars were the way they saw them. How much has this really changed?

I have the face of a vampire, but the heart of a feminist. In case anyone thinks feminism was invented in the 60’s.

Servalan

TRAVIS: You’re almost as ruthless as I am. / SERVALAN: You underestimate me, Travis. It’s the one advantage of sexist stereotypes, isn’t it?

VILA: Her idea of chivalry is never to shoot a blind man in the back. Interesting to even attribute the idea of chivalry to a female character, even sarcastically….

SERVALAN: Responsibility is something I have never evaded.

SERVALAN: There is something you should realise. There are no women like me. I am unique. That makes me rather dangerous. It is a common modern message that we are all unique, but it is generally meant to be a pretty positive affirmation (we are all beautiful snowflakes)–not a real cast iron ego (a.k.a. “balls).

JOBAN: The council ask ‘where is Blake’s head?’ And we have no answer.
SERVALAN: You shall have it.
JOBAN: The answer, or his head?
SERVALAN: Both.
Salome was a femme fatale for asking for a man’s head–Servalan is Pussy Puissant for intending to go and get it herself. (p.s. Theda Bara played Salome, so there is kind of a connection here).

SERVALAN: Where there’s life, there’s threat.
Dew dops on roses and whiskers on kittens are all very well. But of a girl is going to get ahead (figuratively or literally) she’s gotta be vigilant.

If you have other favorite quotations for Theda Bara or Servalan please let me know.  And if you have interesting women, real and fictional, to suggest–please do!

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