Discuss: The Myth of Marilyn Monroe
Filed under: RumorMonger, Fandom
If you ever needed a poster girl for the darker side of fame, then look no further than the tortured 'sex goddess' Marilyn Monroe. In the last couple of days we have been treated to two Monroe-related pieces of gossip: the first was the mind-boggling news that Lindsay Lohan (a dedicated Monroe-phile) was looking to remake Billy Wilder's classic comedy, Some Like it Hot, and today, Scarlett Johansson has reportedly been hired to play Monroe in an adaptation of Colin Clark's memoir, My Week with Marilyn. So even though in both cases it's all probably nothing more than silly rumors, it did get me thinking about the romance that Young Hollywood seems to have with the legendary actress.
Monroe's life and death has been either a cautionary tale or a romantic tragedy as far back as I can remember, and as I watch young Hollywood fall deeper into their love affair with the actress, I have to wonder: "Just what's so great about Monroe anyway?" Blasphemy? Maybe, but but hear me out: Monroe might have been a strong comedic actress and possibly one of the most beautiful women to grace the screen, but a role model? Not on your life pal. You can't help but wonder what we all see in a woman who allegedly suffered from severe depression and substance abuse for most of her life, and thanks to Hollywood was a walking-talking blow-up doll for most of her career.
After the jump: the sad state of young Hollywood and the darker side of Monroe's legacy...
To watch an actress like Lohan or even a celeb like Paris Hilton adopt the pose of Monroe is depressing for a few reasons, but maybe what's worst of all is that like it or not, Monroe is an example of the 'beautiful doormat'. Yes she was sexy, and yes, men all over the world considered her the perfect woman, but if you look a little closer, her career is littered with stories about her 'fragile and childlike nature' and needing to have her lines taped onto the set decorations while she was crippled by stage fright. Once you throw in the 'big bad men' of her personal life, and an inglorious death, you have the makings of a pretty pathetic legend if you ask me. Monroe seems to have taught a new generation of women that it doesn't matter how messed up or unhappy you may be, just as long as you're hot, you're doing just fine.
So maybe it's because I like my legends to have a little more spunk, but that's why I choose to idolize ladies like Bette Davis or Barbara Stanwyck. At least these classic Hollywood women took charge of their careers. They weren't always considered the nicest girls on the block, and most of them weren't even sex symbols in the same league as Monroe. But I think they did the most important thing of all: Those women didn't burn out or fade away ... they kept working.
Now it's your turn to play amateur psychiatrist: what is it about Marilyn that keeps her front and center as the patron saint of starlets everywhere? Sound off below...
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-04-2009 @ 8:34PM
Tommy Salami said...
Agreed. Marilyn had a way about her, but any time you look beyond the veil of her stardom it isn't pretty. I've always admired stronger female roles as well.
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8-04-2009 @ 8:49PM
Baxter said...
She was indeed stunningly beautiful and she made some great films. but I always considered her the ultimate Hollywood cautionary tale. Whenever I see her pictures or films, it makes me sad. And it sickens me to see people like Lindsay Lohan totally miss the point when they attempt to embody her. It says that she died in vain. No one learned anything. Hollywood will keep making the same mistakes of chewing girls up and spitting them out. If they're going to make a film of her life, it better be based on Joyce Carol Oates' "Blonde" or I'm not interested.
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8-04-2009 @ 10:53PM
cablebfg said...
THANK YOU! I have seen a ridiculous amount of people say that they grew up idolizing Monroe or even admiring her. What is there to truly admire? The funny thing is that in today's world, she would not fit the normal starlet-sized dresses. She had curves, yet so many of the women that idolize her are super skinny, or in Ms Lohan's case, LOST alot of weight to become super skinny.
Additionally, as you point out, Lohan and Hilton live in the fast-times lifestyle that ultimately ended the life of the tragic Monroe.
It doesn't take much to uncover the darkness that surrounds Monroe's life. Why she has become so idolized is anyone's guess. Perhaps some of the same starlets that idolize her aren't that bright to begin with and/or don't bother thinking about Monroe's demons.
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8-15-2009 @ 7:06PM
TERRIE said...
MY OWN OBSESSION WITH MARILYN MONROE IS IN A QUOTE SHE WROTE"some people never find out who they are" SHE FELT ACTING WAS HER WAY OF FINDING HER SELF. BUT THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. SHE NEVER COMPLETED HER GOAL WHICH IS WHY SHE CONTINUES TO BE ALIVE TO ME. IN MY OPINION, LINDSAY LOHAN, OR PARIS HILTON WANT TO BE SOMEBODY ELSE AND THAT IS SAD ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY CHOOSE A WOMAN WHO DID NOT KNOW WHO SHE WAS YET.
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT FINDIND THEMSELVES, WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN ABUSED IT TAKES MUCH LONGER. IM VERY PSYCHIC AND I HAVE CHANNELED MARILYN, NOT TO BE HER BUT SHE KNOWS IM TRYING TO FIND MYSELF, MARILYN IS A HELPING SPIRIT AND IN THE AFTER LIFE SHE IS ONE OF MY GUIDES. IM NOT TRYING TO BE HER, IM TRYING TO BE ME AND IN THAT SEARCH IF MARILYN CAN HELP ME COMPLETE THAT SEARCH
JUST MAYBE SHE WILL KNOW WHO SHE IS. BTY, IM NOT FAMOUS BUT VERY LUCKY TO HAVE HER SPIRIT IN MY LIFE. THANK GOD, HE GAVE MARILYN THAT TASK TO COMPLETE ME AND HERSELF. HENCE, I BELIEVE SHE WILL FIND HERSELF BY HELPING VERY ABUSED PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES. MEANING WHO THEY WERE MEANT TO BE, SOMETHING SHE COULD NOT DO IN THIS WORLD.
P.S.
IT IS VERT NOTICABLE TO ME THAT HER MAGIC WAS THE FACT THAT SHE LOVED EVERYONE, PERHAPS BECAUSE SHE NEEDED SO MUCH LOVE TO KEEP ALIVE, WE DIDNT LOVE HER ENOUGH AND THAT IS OUR OBSESSION WITH MARILYN, IF ONLY WE COULD HAVE?
TERESA SKINNER
8-05-2009 @ 8:42AM
Janel said...
I agree. I think far too many starlets want to be her becuase her image is still everywhere but miss what she was in life; a very troubled and fragile woman. I also think men hold James Dean in the same way. He was a wonderful actor with a messed up life.
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8-05-2009 @ 9:47AM
Paul said...
Really...come on! She had a reason to be depressed...no one took her seriously and used her for their own selfish reasons...no wonder she was a depressed! There have been few to even closely capture the beauty Marylin possessed and I do mean few...if any!
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8-05-2009 @ 11:47AM
cablebfg said...
is her being a beautiful woman a good reason to be idolized by so many young women?
8-05-2009 @ 11:35AM
Christian M. Howell said...
I can only say:
Grace Kelly. That's a role model.
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8-05-2009 @ 11:41PM
Julie said...
The beauty and the comedic talent, for sure. But I think this quote, by artist Carol Robinson, sums it up perfectly (even though it's about Elvis):
"I have always been obsessed with Elvis, not for his music but for his inner torment. Perhaps it is through the tears of our icons and idols we gain hope and possible deliverance from our own sorrow."
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8-06-2009 @ 10:14AM
ML said...
I can't say that Ms Monroe is my favorite icon; however, it's no surprise that blond wannabes ever since seek to emulate her. Lindsay Lohan in Some Like It Hot? That just makes me sad. I'm just trying to figure out who could be effectively cast in the Lemon and Brown roles ... This could just be the most pathetic remake ever.
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8-11-2009 @ 10:57PM
TERRIE said...
BLONDIE? YOU MEAN DEBBIE HARRY? HER LIFE IS GOING TO BE MADE INTO A MOVIE, ONE WORTH WATCHING. LOHAN, HILTON, WHATEVER THEY GLORIFY WHAT THEY CANT HAVE MEANING THEY ARE GREEDY. WHAT LITTLE MARILYN DID HAVE THEY WANT IT EVEN THOUGH WHAT THEY DONT WANT IS HER DISRESPECT AND CHILDHOOD ABUSE. CAN YOU RELATE TO THAT BAXTER?
TERRIE
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