The subversive violent femme: an examination on the cathartic potential of violence for feminist spectators

This dissertation proposes and argues for the aesthetic value of the subversive violent femme. This fictional figure is defined through their use of violence as a means of opposition and resistance to injustices that occur towards women within a violent patriarchal culture. The subversive violent femme draws inspiration from violent women archetypes across genres and texts but is marked as a product specifically of female authorship, critiquing misogyny and male violence informed practically and intuitively from the epistemic lived experiences of women. This work chronologically traces the historicity of the subversive violent femme from the 15th century to the present day to argue that female violence continues to offer female spectators an opportunity for cathartic release and empowerment in combating manifest and insidious forms of male oppression. Through challenging normative masculinist scripts and embracing a subversion of the feminine, the subversive violent femme's current renaissance confirms this figure's lasting endurance and appeal across generations in their unique capacity to bring retributive relief to feminist spectators.