Mark Sullivan wrote:
> While I'm not sure I agree that the man walking down
the mean streets
> who is not himself mean is as outmoded a figure as
you do (although I
> can't immediately think of any current examples), I
do think you are
> dead on about prudishness being a major factor in
Marowe's views about
> women (although they get a little bit better over
the series).
I don't know why we keep pussyfooting around this subject.
Marlowe was a prude, but when it came to women he, like Spade
and many of their contemporaries were mysogenists. The strong
women in Chandler's books, and Maltese Falcon and Spillane's
yarns were either femme fatales or overlooked.
In the context of the time, women with goals outside the
kitchen usually had to manipulate men in order to achieve
those goals. Tough guys with power resented that and only
played along until it threatened their independence. Or they
used the women from the start. Marlowe and Spade didn't trust
this type of woman, and were blind to the existence of any
other type.
Imperviousness to conniving women is a male fantasy, as much
as shooting your way out of problems. And just because many
women now enjoy the fantasy of direct, violent action and
dominant sex, or now feel more comfortable admitting it,
doesn't necessarily make the fantasy any less attractive to
men. It's a fantasy, see. Means I wouldn't have to take out
the garbage when I'm told.
These stereotypes may be too outdated to write about anymore
(though Ellroy seems to get away with it by writing
"historical" fiction) but they still make for a good
read.
Kerry (with a "K")
-- <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<LOOKING FOR FUN>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The evil that men do lives after them at http://www.murderoutthere.com
Literary events in Ontario's Golden Horseshoe and around the world at http://www.lit-electric.com
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