The Marilyn Delusion

Marilyn Monroe in all her contrived glory

I have decided to confess one of my festering pet peeves, at the peril of losing a few friends, and irritating a lot of teenage girls who think they have an idol: Black and white blockmounted pictures of Marilyn Monroe.

Let me clarify, I actually like Marilyn Monroe (or Norma Jean Mortensen, as she was unglamorously christened), I just don't like that people are hanging her on their walls. I like her because I think she made poignant and insightful comments on society and the nature of fame (she took a literature course at a California college, and was married to the author of The Crucible, so I refuse to believe she is an idiot), and because I will admit that I am fascinated by the charm that earned her fame and turned her into a posthumous household name, the charm that I detected after watching one of her movies and clips of her interviews and shows on the internet. I have sympathy for her because of the early death of her mother, the estrangement of her father, her claims of being raped, and her harsh upbringing in orphanages and foster homes.

I will admit that her contrivement deeply unsettles me, though. These are pictures from one of her first photoshoots.
                

Norma Jean Mortensen

Monroe's first photo shoot

            

This is what ticks me off: girls seem to like Marilyn Monroe for the sole reason that she was pretty. I have asked people many times why Monroe appeals to them. Answers have included: "I prefer her to some these movie stars we have today" "She was just beautiful" or "Um... I don't know. She looks vintage?". I believe if Monroe were our contemporary we would probably feel the same towards her as we do to Kim Kardashian, or Lindsay Lohan.

Monroe was addicted to drugs, and eventually died of an overdose. She was the stereotypical blonde, despite being a natural brunette. Her regrowth bleaching was impeccable (I will admit). Men fawned over her. She was Hollywood's sex symbol. She had no qualms about removing her clothes, and did many nude photo shoots. She helped pioneer the blonde "bimbo" stereotype that girls both despise and aspire to today. She was involved in several affairs (notably with president JFK and his brother), and was married three times. Toward the end of her career, her conduct on set became unproffessional. She forgot her lines, arrived late, and made life painful for everyone with her "diva" behaviour. She was unfortunately type-casted in the role of the beautiful blonde idiot. She slept around to get roles in movies.

She was by no means a role model. I like Marilyn Monroe.

It does not annoy me that people look up to her. What annoys me are their reasons why.