Marilyn Monroe – Turning Criticisms into Stardom

Without a doubt, one of the most iconic figures to this day is Marilyn Monroe. Nearly 60 years after her death, she remains as one of the most important icons from the 20th century who’s still relevant today. While Monroe isn’t recognized as much for her acting, it’s her image that continues to thrive in society. Monroe presented an image that’s based on sexuality, and this image has left an impact still felt to this day. Starting off as a pin-up, Monroe’s career flourished through her looks and body. In the early stages of her acting career, she would often be credited without an actual name, but rather as an object or characteristic (ex: the body, the girl, etc). Basically, she was viewed as a commodity in the films she appeared on, limiting her growth as an actress. Because her early image was so centered on being objectified, she managed to turn her objectification into an advantage. Already starring in controversial films such as The Asphalt Jungle, Monroe was already viewed as a sex symbol by how she presented herself in these film. However, she managed to take things on a whole other level, and she ultimately decided to cover for the first issue of Playboy magazine. With a rise in pornographic outlets, Monroe’s career skyrocketed through this magazine cover.

 

One of the reasons this magazine cover became a turning point in her career was due to how she managed to take control of her image. She managed to convert her objectifications into her “brand” image. She embraced the sex symbol that was given to her, and turned it into a driving force into her stardom. As a result, she began to receive leading roles in the films she starred in (such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), and managed to increase her popularity to astronomical levels. But, just because she managed to embrace her sexuality doesn’t mean it didn’t have consequences. While she was able to receive larger roles, she had to stick with the “dumb blonde” persona due to the high demand from both producers and the general public. Because of this, Monroe was never able to explore roles that showcased her acting potential. Despite trying to change her image near the time of her death, sexuality overshadowed so much of her image that it’d be unlikely that she’d be able to change anything. Ultimately, her rise to fame was a result of sexuality, and it was able to craft the star image we know of today.

 

Stardom is an important factor to Marilyn Monroe, and there’s a reason why she became so popular. One characteristic most stars share in common is that they’re able to embody people’s desires. During the early 50’s, sexuality was still a taboo subject, especially when it came to women embracing their sexuality. Monroe being able to use sexuality to build her image was desirable for many, and it can be debated whether or not her actions pushed a feminist agenda. However, there’s no denying her image left an impact on society. Monroe’s openness to sexuality not only made this subject less taboo in society, but also empowered many women to embrace something natural. Ultimately, Monroe was able to leave a legacy behind, and has been able to keep her image relevant through her actions as a star.

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