Includes bibliographical references and index. Includes filmography.
Contents:
Introduction: playing "Marilyn Monroe" -- Becoming a star: the publicity buildup and early performances -- Mrs. America: Marilyn Monroe and marriage anxiety -- "It's kinda personal and embarrassing, too": Monroe, the Kinsey Reports, and the double standard -- The actress and her method: resisting playing "Marilyn Monroe" -- Conclusion: a "Marilyn Monroe" type.
Summary:
"Although she remains one of the all-time most recognizable Hollywood icons, Marilyn Monroe has seldom been ranked among the greatest actors of her generation. Critics have typically viewed her film roles as mere extensions of her sexpot image. Yet this ignores both the subtle variations between these roles and the acting skill that went into the creation of Monroe's public persona. Some Kind of Mirror offers the first extended scholarly analysis of Marilyn Monroe's film performances, examining how they united the contradictory discourses about women's roles in 1950s America. Amanda Konkle suggests that Monroe's star personality resonated with audiences precisely because it engaged with the era's critical debates regarding femininity, sexuality, marriage, and political censorship. Furthermore, she explores how Monroe drew from the techniques of Method acting and finely calibrated her performances to better mirror her audience's anxieties and desires. Drawing both from Monroe's filmography and from 1950s fan magazines, newspaper reports, and archived film studio reports, Some Kind of Mirror considers how her star persona was coauthored by the actress, the Hollywood publicity machine, and the fans who adored her. It is about why 1950s America made Marilyn Monroe a star and how she defined an era."--Back cover.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.