Feminine Consciousness In Fellini’s Films

Federico Fellini is one of the three masters of modern art films in the world,along with Andrei Tarkovsky and Ingmar Bergman.He is known for his unique "Fellini style" in the film industry,which makes him stand out.Fellini has directed 4 TV commercials and 24 films,including 21 feature films and 3 joint films.Throughout Fellini’s career,"women" have been a key theme in his films.From his first film,"Variety Lights"(1950),to his last film,"The Voice of the Moon"(1990),his films have been filled with a significant amount of "Feminine consciousness." These women are depicted differently throughout Fellini’s different creative periods,from the traditional women during his early period following the Italian Neorealist movement,to the women in his dreamlike films,to the maternal concept of the ancient Roman city in his later period.The "Feminine consciousness" in Fellini’s films changes with his creative philosophy but constantly exists.Based on the above,the author summarizes and investigates Fellini’s films from the perspective of "Feminine consciousness." The conception is defined,and the connotation and analysis are organized.Firstly,Fellini’s female consciousness is a way of grasping,depicting,experiencing and imagining women through film images.Secondly,the connotations of "female consciousness" are developed in three dimensions: physiological,ethical and spiritual,presenting a dominant tendency that interweaves in different creative periods.Combining with the characteristics of each creative period,the author summarizes the "female consciousness" that occupies the dominant tendency in each period as follows:the portrayal of real life,the transcendence of reality,the externalization of deep consciousness,the search for existence that cannot be solved.Further detailed discussions and analysis are provided in each chapter.I will summarize Fellini’s personal profile and creative experience in the introduction section,determines the research perspective of "Feminine consciousness," and summarizes the research status both at home and abroad.The body of the thesis is divided into four chapters,focusing on the different dominant "Feminine consciousness" during his creative periods.Chapter One studies the "Feminine consciousness" during Fellini’s New Realism era(1950-1953).Using the "Role Trilogy" as an example,this chapter probes the traditional women in the reconstruction after World War II,the cultural constraints and budding consciousness."Real-life imitation" is the main "Feminine consciousness" during this period.Chapter Two discusses the "Feminine consciousness" of the transitional period(1954-1957).Using the "Redemption Trilogy" as an example,this chapter examines the complementary relationship between Fellini’s films during the transitional period and the characterization of women,and the loneliness and confusion of the time."Transcendence of reality" is the main "Feminine consciousness" during this period.Chapter Three explores the "Feminine consciousness" of the Modern film era(1958-1967).Using the "Betrayal Trilogy" as an example,this chapter analyzes women characters who try to express their consciousness using film as a medium under the influence of Jungian psychology.It also delves into the uncertainties of modern film and the ambiguity of women.During this period,"deep consciousness externalization" is the main "Feminine consciousness." Chapter Four investigates the "Feminine consciousness" of the philosophical and speculative period(1968-1990).Using six films as examples,this chapter analyzes the allegories and transcendence of women’s phenomena through maternal worship in Rome,mythological prototypes,and the phenomenology of love.During this period,"the pursuit of an unsolvable existence" is the main "Feminine consciousness."Fellini’s "Feminine consciousness" is different from traditional topics such as women’s rebellion and rise,nor is it limited to men’s superficial gaze at women.It contains the director’s life experience,creative experience,and is related to Italy’s film transformation and development,as well as social politics and culture."Feminine consciousness" is not only an important theme in film creation but also the director’s depiction and characterization of society,and Fellini’s inner world externalization form.Analyzing Fellini’s "Feminine consciousness" shows the transition from concrete to abstract.Summarizing the "Feminine consciousness" concept at different periods is more beneficial for us to systematically and comprehensively understand the expression of Fellini’s films.It will become a starting point to enter Fellini’s consciousness and understand his filmic world.The thesis will use Fellini’s films as the basis to define the concept,summarize the connotation,and analyze the characteristics of "Feminine consciousness" in his different periods from "Variety Lights" to "The Voice of the Moon." It aims to fill the academic gap in the research of Fellini’s films with a new research perspective and results.