Marilyn Monroe: A Star of the Ages

In a terrible turn of circumstances on the early morning of August 5, 1962, 36-year-old Marilyn died in her sleep at her Brentwood, California home with the phone attached to her hand. Rumors speculate of an overdose or intentionally killing herself. There was also speculation and gossip of having an affair with John F Kennedy and that she was about to go public with what she knew about JFK and Bobbi Kennedy. Also that she was murdered by 'government agents' to safeguard the president. Another conspiracy incident was that Marilyn was killed by the mafia as punishment to the Kennedy's for their attacks on them, and to expose Kennedy's many love affairs. Now with all the aspects of her death, Marilyn had plans to work on new movies and a possible

Marilyn Monroe established her temptress image through multiples of publicity shots. An important element contributing to this image, which is clearly displayed in this magazine cover, is her facial expression. Marilyn Monroe established a universally familiar expression, her face raised, mouth open and bared teeth, which became vital to her image. These peculiarities of her facial expression are signifiers which help to create her marketable and sexual image. The open mouth and bared teeth become overt signs of sexual allure, playfulness and seductiveness. This contributes to the beliefs that females have to appear as a sexual object to remain a marketable image in society. Marilyn looking upwards, together with the photograph taken from a camera below her (angled

The 1950s are a period marked by unadulterated family bliss and happy days. Consumer goods became more affordable, sparking the purchase of houses in the suburbs, cars, washing machines, radio, and cameras. Television captivated the nation and that old time rock and roll shook center stage. Many people greatly influenced pop culture during the 1950s, one of whom was Marilyn Monroe. She was famous for playing the “dumb blonde” character, but her great intellect and her cutting-edge confidence changed pop culture forever. Marilyn Monroe, with her all American attributes and streamlined sexuality, came to epitomise in a single image this complex interface of the economic, the political, and the erotic. By the mid 1950s, she stood for a brand of classless glamour, available to anyone using American cosmetics, nylons and peroxide.

“Sometimes good things fall apart, so better things can fall together” (Marilyn Monroe). Monroe was a big believer in letting problems and struggles fall into place because in the end she believed everything would be where it is meant to be and everything would turn out just fine. Marilyn Monroe was the essential focus in the fifties and provided a turning point in time for women in America. She is an inspiration to me because she did not let her struggles stop her from achieving her goals. The following points illustrate the importance of this turning point in time. Monroe did not let her background and struggles stop her from reaching her goals, she was an independent woman taking advantage of the opportunities that afforded her in the movie

Judy Garlands career has brought a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the years from her rise to fame starting at thirteen until her gradual decrease in beginning in her early thirties. Garland’s was promoted as “the all-American, girl next door image that… accounted for her… pre-1950 appeal” (156). The roles that Garland play in her early career resembles a small town girl that defies all odds to ultimately become successful or fall in love. Tabloids covered everything she did because people loved her bright teen spirit that was exposed to the public. However, as Garland became older her parts in movies shifted from a girl battling the odds in the world toward more of a tomboy role, which took away from her sexuality as a woman. As

After reading our assigned transcripts, I have drawn a similarity in topics such as Barbie, Miss America pageant, and Marilyn Monroe. The underlying message which I found common in all readings were the importance of a women’s self-image. From the very beginning, Miss America pageants in the 1920’s based their winner primarily on their personal appearance. As the years went on, gender stereotyping became more frequent. In television ads that were running during the 1950’s had shown women as the “perfect “package.

Marilyn Monroe was an iconic sex symbol known for her beauty, sex appeal, idiosyncratic sense of humor, and sly wit. With traits such as those, it’s no wonder she was and still is loved by much of the world. However, did these qualities really belong to the façade that was Marilyn or were they simply Norma Jeane’s qualities being contained behind another face? That dazzling, witty blonde we’ve come to know as Marilyn Monroe was actually born Norma Jeane Mortenson, the girl who was no stranger to foster care. Add her three failed marriages and long experience with psychoanalysis, and you wonder how no one could have seen through her and her painted on, fictitious image.

Marilyn Monroe was America’s sex symbol during the 1960’s. Despite what she was known for, not many people knew about the rough childhood she endured and how she was able to get past it and emerge as a famous hollywood actress. She was not a “dumb blonde” but actually quite smart, she knew how to manipulate the people around her to get what she wanted. She was truly an inspiring woman who had an impact on women back in the 1960’s and in the world today. Marilyn Monroe, being portrayed as America’s sex symbol, affected how women looked up to her as an inspirational role model, how women dressed, and mostly how women wanted to look physically.

Novelist, playwright, and producer are all credentials that are a part of Mae West’s career, but it is not what comes to mind when looking back on the Hollywood starlet’s career. From Marilyn Monroe to Anna Faris, Mae West is one of the first Hollywood starlets who took control of her public image and is known as a pop culture icon. She is the inspiration for Dali’s Face of Mae West. Dali shows interest in the construction of her public image as an actress and celebrity (Evans, 107). Mae West is a part of Hollywood’s Pre-Code era. Her combination of provocative humor and playing the voluptuous blonde role, Mae West uses her public image to dominate Hollywood’s patriarchal institution.

I believe that I was an imperative figure in inspiring women to pursue and connect with the actors and actresses of the era. In the 1930s, I stood as one of the most vital stars at MGM. Furthermore, women involved in the Great Depression era associated themselves with me in intimate and explicit ways. At this time, my career was at its prime, impressing both film executives and movie patrons. Despite the adversities, I was a self-motivated and resolute individual, able to create a remarkably stout and varied body of work in a career that often emulated both the themes and trends of the industry. In the '20s, I was the embodiment, according to writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, of the sprightly yet expressive flapper. Moreover, in the '30s, I personified a Depression-era nation's hopes with my renderings of both spirited working girls and glamorous society women. In becoming a successful and well-known performer from particularly humble origins, I gave hope to young women in a position similar to mine. With this said, I hope to serve as a paradigm of perseverance and integrity when addressing dedication to one’s work and

Sir Laurence Olivier, a prominent English actor during Monroe’s time claims “[Monroe] was the victim of ballyhoo and sensation—exploited beyond anyone’s means” (“Marilyn”). To his point, Monroe was just a young woman without a high school diploma who fell down a rabbit hole into the wonderland known as Hollywood, then, seemingly overnight, became a veritable ‘bombshell’ because of her pretty face and nubile body. Yet Monroe was under no illusion about her status as a sex symbol. She embraced her role and the work that came with it. She loved it.

Actress, beauty, and elegance are three words people think of when they hear Audrey Hepburn, but she was so much more. Many people know that Audrey Hepburn was an actress, but thatś just one role she played. As a well known actress, Audrey Hepburn Showed the world that sometimes you have to take a stand for what you believe in, even if itś not what the majority of people want or what a majority of people neglect. She left a lasting legacy as a fashion and beauty icon as well as having a playful elegance that always seemed to make people smile.

A star’s image is a concept carefully molded by the celebrity himself or herself with the aid of many factors such as audience reception and current ideological trends. Star image, by definition, given by O’Shaughnessy and Stadler, is “the qualities, ideals, and values that a star represents, based on their films and other performances, and on media information circulated about them” (430). A change of star image encompasses the sum of everything we, as in the audience, affiliate with that star. That means changing the star’s body of work, promotion, publicity, and audience practices. These factors put together is also known as star text (Professor Josh Jackson, September 8, 2016, University of California, Berkeley). Jennifer Lawrence had a particular star text before she took on the role of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games and was instead known for her role of Ree Dolly in Winter’s Bone. This new role launched Lawrence into a different star text she was previously known for. Though it seemed like the change is solely based on her landing an already popular role, the change in her star text is still calculated in order for her to maintain a certain image that landed her at the top of the celebrity social ladder. This careful manipulation of a celebrity’s image as she takes on a role that guaranteed a big impact on her acting career demonstrates how a star’s image is important when it comes to maintaining what the celebrity, and everyone who is working with that

In the 1950s, excessively feminine silhouettes were celebrated thus accentuating curves, full bosoms and narrow waists was a prevailing way for women to dress. Nevertheless, with her sphere of influence on women, Audrey Hepburn introduced an alternative to this limited standard of how women—through various aspects of dressing and behaving—should be (Keogh 1). Some of the popular stars who eventually became sex symbols in the period were Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot and Grace Kelly. Hepburn’s physique however, was totally different from these women. She did not have a big bosom or a bottom. She was not curvy. Unlike Audrey Hepburn’s

Sexism is a major part of Hollywood in modern times. You cannot find a single news or media outlet that is not critiquing a male or female celebrity on their appearance, size, and external beauty.. It is ridiculous to say the least when these people are not much better themselves. What the worst part about the public’s view of Hollywood is tearing average people down about their beauty, and wanting to become like other celebrities. The author wrote, “Some celebrity’s beauty has the distinction of instilling admiration in both sexes. Johnny Depp’s eyebrows and jaw line are apparently a source of envy for both men and women” (Queendom). Most women, more than men, feel this way and envy celebrities physical appearances, thinking they will be beautiful if they conform to these celebrities’ looks. But has anyone ever asked if Johnny Depp, or any actor, musician, or author is self conscious of themselves? Judy Grahan does exactly that when she writes a feminist poem entitled, “Helen in Hollywood.”. She considers herself a feminist, and others gaining inspiration from her, saying, “Her writings helped fuel second wave feminist, gay and lesbian activism, and women’s spirituality movements beginning in 1965” (Triangle). Her being a feminist, along with her Ph. D in women's