This is not a post specifically about Marilyn Monroe - more accurately, it is about what she represents. How society views her and many other actresses like her.
Let me begin by saying that for many years as a young woman, I loved her. I still admire her beauty and courage.
And this post came about because I watched an old film of hers recently.
While the film made me feel wistful for the innocence of my younger eyes - it also made my older, wiser self criticize it in a way that I criticize most things now.
So what is it we love about Marilyn?
Of course, the fact that she lights up the screen. That she is humorous and gentle. We also identify with her life.
And there is the rub....I think, as a girl, I identified with many of the sad circumstances that occurred in her short life.
But now I see that what we love about her is not as simple as that.
Women in society still love her because she is the epitome of femininity. And men, too. But I have heard men say it is because they can "protect" her.
As feminists know, femininity can be about giving one's power to a man. I think Marilyn shows this. Her manner is almost that of a little, lost girl, who needs a man to come along and "guide" her. Her soft voice and doe-eyes do indeed say "protect me".
Her manner is at all times, unthreatening. At all times, ladylike... but sexy.
And that is why I think men still love her. She allows their control. She allows them the rights of patriarchy. To be a father figure AND a lover, to a woman.
Have the rules of femininity changed that much since then? Generations have gone by - and yet she remains one of the most revered of all actresses.
I look around me...at more modern films...and at society as a whole and my answer would have to be "no".
Patriarchy still has a way of exalting feminine women and critisizing strong women. Please let me know what you think.
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I don't know much about Marilyn Monroe (I grew up sans TV/access to movies). But I've always been more drawn to Mae West for those very reasons; Mae West didn't need protecting, and she had an attitude that rocked.
Marilyn Monroe was killed by femininity. She wanted very badly to be a serious actress and to take serious roles, but what her agent and directors (and husbands) wanted was The Girl. She had incredible depth and range which she was rarely allowed to use. Fans should check out Don't Bother to Knock, a noir film in which she plays a mentally ill woman babysitting for a night, and Marilyn: The Last Days, a documentary which contains footage from her last, uncompleted film Something's Got to Give.
Thanks FumiousB....I think you are spot on! When I wrote this post, it was from the point of view of someone, who like you has studied Monroe's career and aspirations, quite a bit.
And you are correct. She was rarely allowed to do more serious roles (and let's be honest here....the public wnated to see her as dumb and cute, too).
Her career was totally stifled - and yet many of her director's described her as brilliant in dramatic and serious roles.
You are right...patriarchial obsession with femininity did indeed, kill her.