The image has a huge effect in society. A celebrity’s image can characterize, shape and circulate societal myths in Hollywood. When people see the significant images, they will connect the specific celebrities in their time period. A blonde, beautiful, and sexy girl whose white dress was flying is one of the most famous images that the American actress, singer, and model Marilyn Monroe made in the 20th century. People think her figure and beauty made her a popular icon and sex symbol in the 1950s. Monroe's status as a sex symbol has influenced many artists since her time, even though the beauty standard has been different since then. Many celebrities imitate Monroe not only because of marketing and media needs, but also because people today still “worship” the image of Monroe. However, to only examine this sexualized image, people would seldom find out that Monroe was a feminist in the mid 20th century. On the other hand, how does a woman who passed away at thirty-six years old, after starring in only a handful of movies, have such an impact on society, especially young women, in the 21st century? The reason why Monroe is still relevant and even famous today shows the power of female charisma. Monroe had many feminist characteristics, such as being an independent professional woman, she was courageous to express herself, and she was always self-actualized. Independence, self-expression, and self-actualizion are all the ideas that feminists encouraged in the 21st century. The media created Monroe’s sexy image at first, but she used it to become famous. Later on she tried to use her action to get rid her sexy image. Even though many feminists think Monroe is a victim through Monroe’s sexualized image, Monroe’s image has influenced f...
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...ized as a feminist already. Her actions reveal a person who was far more than the sexy dumb blonde she supposed to be in the movies. Monroe passed away just before feminism made clear that women have every human possibility. Women need to support each other and to explore the real lives to help themselves. Monroe used her experience to show the power of female charisma to the public. She not only was the feminist model for modern women, but also showed her powerful personality to men. Monroe believed in equality, but she falls through a patriarchal society that only valued her for her sexual image. Monroe understood the need for the power of the women in the modern society, and that’s why her image has been redefined. Any woman who contribute their lives in the way chosen by themselves, who is concerned and intelligent, is making the world a better place for women.
To begin, Scott’s article Reading the Popular Image argues that there are many ways and factors that can affect the meaning of an image of a New Woman. One argument that Scott presents is the importance of context to fully understand the picture so to not jump to conclusions. Scott uses the example of editorial context in the Life magazine to point out that the pictures, while on the surface may have a negative connotation attached to it, turns out to be quite positive and supportive. Scott also notes that new technologies emerged around 1890 allowed new “thoughts and significations” through pictures. She finishes her chapter by examining how the Gibson girl affected women individually as well as groups of women.
They did not challenge gender norms or ideals. Nor did they aim to usurp the position of the man. Rather, they supported the overarching mentality that women were to be submissive, strive to fulfill the needs and wants of men, and aim to please their male counterparts. (Kallen) Importantly, none of these women or representations of women exhibited any physical attributes that the dominant culture would view as masculine. Instead, they all displayed quintessential feminine characteristics and traits. Moreover, they were not valued for their brains or accomplishments; they were judged solely based on the degree to which they conformed to the male-dictated status quo. Marilyn Monroe and other sex icons of the 1950s were portrayed as dim-witted, naïve, childlike, and vulnerable, which was the polar opposite of society’s picture of the strong, smart, witty, and brave male. There was nothing about these women that challenged male superiority or threatened the overarching worldview that it was a ‘man’s world’ and women’s purpose was to make this world more enjoyable for the men who ruled it. (Meyerowitz
Specific Stages of Erik Erickson’s Stage Theory greatly exemplify the deeply confused individual of Marilyn Monroe. The most predominant features of Marilyn Monroe’s personality can be explained by Erikson’s psychosocial stages of “Identity versus Role Confusion”, “Intimacy versus Isolation”, and “Generativity versus Stagnation” (Howard & Shustack, 2009, p. 134-139). During Marilyn Monroe’s most critical period of her life, childhood, she was neither exposed to a stable mother and father figure, nor a balanced environment. Those who did love her did not remain for long enough periods to have a substantial effect on Marilyn’s life. The closest mother-type present in her life, Grace McKee, did not possess the resources needed to raise a child and thus had to withdraw as permanent stature in Marilyn’s life (Learning, 1998, p. 64-76). Aside from Grace, Marilyn also never experienced the protection and love of a father figure, or arbitrary male in her life.
When comparing Helen of (Sparta) Troy and Marilyn Monroe they have many parallels and differences. Mutually both of these women had a coarse childhood with many hardships. Both women had a turning point when they did something that caused people to change their opinion of them. Helen and Monroe’s Beauty has luminously inspired artist for decades. When comparing Helen of troy and Marilyn Monroe, one can see many similarities between both historic individuals.
The death of Marilyn Monroe is one of the most famous, unsolved murders of all time. Her death certificate claims that on the night of August 4th, 1962 Marilyn Monroe killed herself from a drug overdose in her home in Los Angeles, California. Although some might say that the drug overdose is the only possible reason of her passing, other might say that theories such as the CIA killed Marilyn Monroe makes more sense. For example, Marilyn Monroe was allegedly having an affair with both John F. Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy. The most common theory supports the idea that “the Kennedys killed her (or had her killed) because they feared she would make public their love affairs and other government secrets she was gathering” (History.com
...tivating for the advancement of women, without realizing they were doing so. She also claims that the term "feminist" changes over time, to become appropriate for how one would like to apply it.
Marilyn Monroe (Monroe) was an image of fashion and beauty in the 20th century. Overcoming a traumatic childhood to become one of the most confident women. Making bold provocative, but, fashionable statements about how women should be confident about their own body image. Without the help of others, she would not have become the person she is known as today. Marilyn Monroe, a famous actress, who has influenced the rest of the world.
Monroe started to get into acting. She didn’t get to do a lot of movies at the time. When she was in a movie she was just an extra in the background. She really didn’t get any speaking roles. In 1947 she got her first speaking role in a movie. It wasn’t much but one line but it was a big step in her career to get a speaking role. She got another role in the movie Dangerous Years and got a slightly bigger role. In the movie she was a waitress and they gave her a close up. She thou...
Marilyn Monroe was liked by many, society liked her for the sheer fact that she never portrayed herself as famous, but as a human. She was the epiphany of Hollywoods misguided. She created this noble character that people admired, they also admired her f...
Humanity has been allured by extraordinary beauty for centuries. Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, is a perfect example. This enchanting mythical figure wore a girdle with magical powers: forcing anyone to be in her presence to immediately fall in love with her. Though married to the blacksmith god Hephaestus, Aphrodite was known to have many affairs with both other gods and humans. Like Aphrodite, Marilyn Monroe seemed to enchant people wherever she went. The stunning blonde never settled down, and had affairs with multiple men. Sam Shaw, iconic Hollywood photographer, described her as, “’...always joyful, witty, fun loving and serious about acting—with a terrific desire to learn, to know about the arts, the theater, her craft, to read good books, to read poetry and to try to reach the ecstasy of poetic thoughts’” (French). Amazingly, both Aphrodite and Marilyn Monroe are major sex symbols, were quite unsure of their biological fathers, and had love relations with a pair of brothers.
I chose these four journal writings because I believe they are the strongest pieces I have written from the second half of the semester. The main focus of these journals was based on readings under the women as objects topic. The oppression of women has led to females being objectified and used as gratification for men. A woman’s body and appearance have become a commodity, especially in the media. Films, television shows, music and advertisements use women’s bodies to attract their audience and sell products. The movie watched in class “Killing Us Softly 4,” highlights this fact while presenting how women are represented throughout the media. The media has set and perpetuated a particular standard of beauty that is restrictive, but for some many women completely unattainable. The women represented in the media are young, thin and have western or European characteristics. Where does that leave the majority of women that do not fall under this category? This leads to women developing eating disorders to achieve an ideal body image that is manufactured through Photoshop and other picture editing systems. Women of color, women with disabilities or any woman that does not follow this standard is not represented within the media. When a few women do break this mold and become famous, they are set at a different standard. These women’s differences become the highlighted feature of their fame. However, the one constant in the media when it comes to women is the objectification and sexualization of women. This sexualization can lead to aggression or violence against women and the perpetuation of rape culture. The images viewed in the media directly impact how women view themselves and how others view women. By examining the issues women f...
Think about the obstacles of a woman to become successful in the 1950s. I want to find an answer whether it was the media, which created Monroe’s sexy image or Monroe, whom herself used her sexy image to become famous. I am going to study the background of the time period, and learn if the current events such as the Civil Rights Movement and the Cold War, had any impact on Monroe's life, or whether Monroe herself had any influences politics in mid-20th century. I will also explore on how Monroe’s image influenced and redefined the feminism in the 21st century. I believe Marilyn Monroe was a clever, confident, and independent woman who was very brave and smart. Her spirit is what the girls in the new century needed. I also would like to study why Marilyn Monroe is still relevant and even famous in the 21st century to show the power of female charisma.
issues and had threatened suicide before (Bell, 2014). However, while she did suffer from many issues, it was said that around this time she was in good spirits. She had been planning for the future and seemed to be looking forward to it.
Madonna has been a powerful woman that changed cultural, fashion, and social trends. She just may be the most iconic and influential woman the world has seen. She manipulated her position as a leading celebrity and proved women can be beautiful, sexual, and in complete control of their lives. Her opinions and attitudes on sexuality and feminism changed the way the traditional standards of beauty worked. There are no standards of beauty but what an individual finds beautiful. Madonna helped classify a modern woman as an independent and sexual being. She fought to give women more choices and freedom and become more confident about themselves. Madonna made it possible for a woman to be in complete charge of her sexuality and womanhood. Today, a woman is not defined by her beauty but by her attitude and style.
Sex has always been a controversial matter in American society. Before the 1980’s, those that openly articulated their views about sex were thought of as promiscuous and perverse, unless they were male. Perhaps, that is why the aura of Madonna stirred raving controversy across America. Fiske notes that her image was not a “model meaning for young girls in patriarchy, but a site of semiotic struggle between the forces of patriarchal control and feminine resistance, of capitalism and the subordinate, of the adult and the young (Fiske 282).” Never before had a woman presented herself so provocatively yet so comfortably.