VAMPS & INNOCENTS

Exhibited at Antonio Ferrara, Vienna, 2007

This series depicts film starlets from the silent films era in Hollywood.  Actors tended to be put into one of two categories: Vamps or Innocents (the virgin/whore syndrome) and repeatedly played the same part so as not to confuse the general public who, in those days, found it very difficult to separate the actors from the roles they played.  Hollywood was very male-dominated at this time and the actors were silent, both on screen and off.  The film studios consciously played an important part in developing the image and definition of 'the American'.