Megan Sullivan -- Supplemental Response #4

 Marilynn Monroe Spotted at Universal Studios Hollywood! (Well, sort of!) 

I thought I would use this opportunity to talk about the continued legacy of Marilyn Monroe, in conversation with Gentlemen Prefer Blondes screened in our last class. 


 Marilynn Monroe is truly such a unique star image, and I found her role in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes to be an interesting reflection of women in the 1950s. While she is the epitome of sex and attraction, she demands a sense of autonomy in a patriarchal society. Despite men simply gushing over her and her soon-to-be-husband and his father’s overbearing surveillance, she uses her femininity to be savvy and assertive in her quest to find a wealthy husband and ultimately live a very lavish lifestyle. However, the film also critiques patriarchal standards and exemplifies the limitations of being a woman in the 1950s as Lorelei’s quest to find a wealthy man highlights her societal dependence on men for financial stability. I also found her relationship with her friend Dorthy to be the epitome of girlhood as they come together to outsmart the man. While they have competing ideas and priorities when it comes to men, Lorelei prioritizes wealth and romance while Dorthy prioritizes independence, they both seem to prioritize friendship over all else. I think this demonstrates an interesting and wholesome female relationship that resides within a patriarchal society. 


Today, I think Monroe remains a feminist icon by rejecting the “dumb blonde” stereotype and employing a sense of determination, agency, and navigation of a patriarchal world. Even in the most stark patriarchal setting, as in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Lorelei was able to convey an individualistic ambition, making her character and off-screen ethos an icon for women today navigating patriarchal restrictions. Monroe's legacy inspires women to assert their autonomy and challenge societal norms, embodying resilience and empowerment.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Payton Ewalt, Pau Brunet-Fuertes, Devin Glenn - Realist or Naturalist Style

Image
Group 1: Realist or Naturalist Style Definition: The naturalistic acting method involves creating a character based on a realistic representation, avoiding exaggeration and artificial mannerisms. As Barry Kind defines it in his article "Articulating Stardom," "Naturalism [is] the mode of the individual, his or her utterances, behavior and appearance in everyday setting, gives a privileged access to personal and collective realities" (172). The acting blurs in an impersonation that does not articulate ideas of characterization directly related to facilitating plot signifiers. This mode of acting conflicts with some notions of stardom, as "the actor confronts problems in characterization that relate to his or her being as a general cultural object rather than a theatrical object" (King 173). As Dyer points out, the naturalistic ideas of acting in Diderot and Coquelin method, states that the actor should never lose their role and should perform by observing...
Read more

Diana Motta Morales- Supplemental Post #5

     As I replay the conversation the class had on Friday on icons such as Beyonce and Taylor Swift, the only people I had on my mind that made an impact on me was One Direction. Much like Taylor, One Direction had an insane amount of following that curated the image that represented them for five years. Throughout the school year a topic that is constantly being discussed is star image. Who better to analyze than the boys who turned the world upside down for many young children? One Direction started as a band consisting of 16-18 year olds who got lucky and made it big. By “lucky” I don't mean it as they didn't deserve it, but rehearing the first albums really makes you wonder if these boys weren’t pretty would they get the same treatment? Their growth, not only vocally but physically, truly impacts their interactions with their fans. Each member in the band had an image curated for them, based on looks and fan feedback. Obviously, Harry Styles and Zayn Malik were the tw...
Read more

Sierra Dague Core Response 1: Valentino, The Sheik, and Masculinity

  Core Response 1: Valentino, The Sheik, and Masculinity My response to this week’s reading is based on the following quote from Miriam Hansen:  “If the Valentino films had no other critical function, they did present, by way of negation, a powerful challenge to myths of masculinity in American culture between the wars. The heroes of the American screen were men of action, like Douglas Fairbanks or William S.Hart, whose energy and determination was only enhanced by a certain lack of social graces, especially toward women.” I think this analysis of Valentino as contradicting his age’s ideal conceptions of masculinity truly depicts The Shein ’s historical nature. Watching the film, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the martyr-esque depiction of Diana paired with the entitled nature of Ahmed. I felt mentally exhausted watching the film expect the audience to swoon for Ahmed as he develops sympathy over a situation he quite literally created by kidnapping a woman; Not to mentio...
Read more