A reinterpretation of the monstrous feminine: Alexia as a transformative figure in Titane

Abstract

This thesis explores the representation of the monstrous feminine figure of Alexia in Julia Ducournau’s film Titane (2021) and examines its affect on viewers. In this thesis the focus is on arguing how the traditional concept of the monstrous feminine is reinterpreted, portraying Alexia as a figure who challenges boundaries related to gender and the body rather than conforming to stereotypes. My research is guided by the question: “In what ways does Titane (2021) represent Alexia as a monstrous feminine figure, and what affect does this representation have on the viewer’s embodied experience?” Through the method of phenomenology, I am able to describe viewers’ emotions while witnessing Alexia’s monstrous feminine character. Here, the focus lies on delineating how viewers are affected by emotions such as dread, direct horror, and somatic empathy, and how these emotions manifest on a bodily level. Throughout the analysis, it is examined how these emotions oscillate, and how specific scenes evoke different responses, all related to viewers being horrified by the monstrous feminine, experiencing dread towards it, yet also being able to sympathize with Alexia and her body. To diversify my research and strengthen the argument that Alexia is portrayed as a nuanced and reimagined monstrous feminine figure, narrative elements, and representation are also analysed. Concepts from psychoanalysis, such as the abject and womanliness as masquerade, are applied to demonstrate how Alexia constantly challenges gender boundaries and fluctuates in identity. The aspect of her abject, constantly changing pregnant body underscores the fluidity of both her gender and skin. Additionally, the analysis delves into the societal impact of Alexia’s representation, arguing how the film evokes messages related to the maternal in society and how it reworks societal norms related to gender and the body.