The object of study in this project is the representation of female desire in Spanish cinema during Francoism based on its most important actresses’ interpretative gesturing. We aim to link this gesturing to existing censoring strategies used during the Spanish dictatorship. For this project, the actress’ expressive system —body, face, gesturing and look as elements of the performative game— is to be approached in relation to the representation of female desire. The analysis also includes the study of the narrative elements that allowed this desire to be expressed more effectively despite the non-stopping vigilance during the Francoist dictatorship. The project is also based on the hypothesis that filmic narrations settled a number of women models that coexisted and evolved throughout decades. In this regard and diachronically, the project presents the changes in the expression of female desire during the Spanish dictatorship based on the way they were played by a significant selection of actresses.

Web: deseofemenino.upf.edu