A Love Letter To Marilyn Monroe
Content Warnings: Mentions of sexual assault and sexual abuse.
Marilyn Monroe is a household name. She’s one of the most memorable screen actresses in the Hollywood industry.
As a film major, I have been instructed to watch lots of classic Hollywood movies—mainly ones with men as the lead—but Monroe’s films were almost never assigned to watch. However, if one was, she was not a topic of discussion in class. At all. Despite being a literal screen legend, her work and career are not taught in (my) film classes. I mean, even after her passing in 1964, her name and body have been referenced or imitated in pop culture hundreds of times by companies and celebrities including Cadillac and Jennifer Lopez.
There are many more examples of tributes to Marilyn Monroe, but sometimes they can fall short. In the past few months, Monroe’s legacy received media attention due to Kim Kardashian wearing Monroe’s famous nude illusion dress to the 2022 Met Gala. After the event, photos were released showing that the gown had been ruined, which stirred up plenty of social media drama and fashion professional discourse.
Fast forward to this year’s Venice Film Festival, where Blonde starring Ana de Armas as Monroe premiered, earning a whopping 14-minute standing ovation. Unfortunately, the film includes a violent scene where JFK sexually assaults Marilyn Monroe, which never actually happened in real life. Incidents like these show that Monroe is seen as a commodity to be mimicked and exploited, instead of respected and celebrated.
Image Courtesy: Cecil Stoughton
Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jean Mortensen, grew up in numerous Los Angeles foster homes/orphanages and suffered from sexual abuse and molestation as a child. Remarkably, she overcame her childhood hardships, began pin-up modeling, and even signed with a modeling agency in 1945. Soon after, she had a breakthrough in 1953 when she starred in three major motion pictures: Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and How to Marry a Millionaire. The most notable of these films, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, features the iconic satin, strapless pink gown designed by William Travilla that had a significant impact on popular culture.
During her career, Monroe was deemed a blonde bombshell and a sex symbol whom was shallow and superficial. The stereotype “blonde bombshell” says that blonde women are considered less intelligent and that they are seen as sexual objects. This was not Monroe’s true character. Among many things, Monroe was a civil rights advocate. She actively attended civil rights protests and she used her status and privilege to help Ella Fitzgerald book a venue for her show after the owner refused to let Fitzgerald perform because of her race. Monroe called the owner and convinced him to let Fitzgerald perform. To top it off, Monroe sat front row every night she performed, which brought Fitzgerald press and publicity.
As a young woman aspiring to be in the film industry, Monroe has been a source of inspiration. It’s not because of her fame or money, but because of the impact she had on the entire world. To have a film career of only 17 years, and still be named one of the top ten greatest pop culture icons of the 20th century is a tremendous feat.
She opened her own production company (which is literally a dream of mine) and was an incredibly marketable actress for her time. The hardships and troubles Monroe faced in her childhood did not prevent her from working hard and becoming a fantastic comedienne. Additionally, I hope to learn from her career and style to better shape my own.
Monroe’s stardom has been the subject of all types of media several decades after her death. She is one of the most famous screen legends of the classical Hollywood era, however, despite her contributions to film and fashion, she is not always given the respect she deserves. Monroe’s personal life should not be fictionalized or dramatized for the masses, especially when sexual violence is involved. Monroe’s fashion garments should be archived for preservation, not worn and destroyed on the red carpet. Her career has inspired art across all mediums, which should be treated with respect. She will always be a cultural icon.
“Most importantly, keep smiling. Because life is a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about.” - Marilyn Monroe
Strike Out
Writer: Tatiana Brown
Copy Editor: Emma Twilley
Content Editor: Gabby Macogay
Orlando
Tatiana Brown is a content writer for Strike Magazine Orlando. If she’s not writing articles, she’s probably watching sitcoms or romcoms. She has an obsession with Mike & Ike’s, and is always snacking on something sweet. You can reach her at tatibrown14@gmail.com.