This phrase refers to the concept of exploring the female characters associated with “The Mummy” franchise across its various iterations in film history. It encompasses an examination of how these characters have been portrayed, their roles within the narratives, and how those portrayals reflect changing cultural perceptions of women, power, and the ancient world throughout cinematic history. This includes not only the titular mummy character, when female, but also other significant female roles like Anck-su-namun, Evelyn Carnahan, and Ardeth Bay (in her reincarnated form). Analyzing these figures can offer insights into the evolution of genre conventions, special effects, and storytelling techniques.
Studying these portrayals provides a unique lens through which to examine evolving societal attitudes towards gender, ethnicity, and historical representation. It offers opportunities to analyze the impact of archaeological discoveries and popular interpretations of ancient Egypt on the creation of these characters. Understanding the changing depiction of these women over time helps illuminate broader shifts in film production, audience expectations, and the enduring fascination with ancient civilizations. Such an analysis can reveal the complex interplay between historical inspiration, creative license, and commercial considerations in shaping cinematic narratives.
