Page - 84 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 03/01

84 | Simon Philipp Born www.jrfm.eu 2017, 3/1, 75–104 society creates its own demons. even the whip-wielding Catwoman is a product of a sexist macho society that keeps its women small as tamed pussycats. And, if an unruly female does not obey the male order, she is pushed out of the window, as happens to secretary Selina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer), who is killed by her boss, Max Shreck, for her curiosity (see fig. 6). Down in the gutter, however, Selina is resurrected with the help of wild stray cats. the tables are turned: from being a helpless mouse that had to be rescued by Batman from bad guys in an earlier Figs. 6–7: After the punishment for her uprising against the male order (fig. 6), Selina Kyle returns as Catwoman (fig. 7) to rebel against the patriarchal semiotic system. Film stills, Batman Returns (Tim Burton, US 1992), 00:27:07 (fig. 6), 00:53:40 (fig. 7).