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During 1958, Marilyn Monroe with photographer Richard Avedon modeled a tribute shoot to some of the great feminist actresses who preceded her, for Life Magazine. Playwright Arthur Miller and darling of Broadway, Marilyn's husband at the time, wrote the accompanying article for Life. Just as he completely misunderstood his wife's intellect, he did the same for the women to which she gave tribute.
https://evesreellife.wordpress.com/...e-poses-for-life-magazine-and-richard-avedon/
Each of these women contributed, among many others, to the American film industry's image of a sex symbol. And likely no modern feminist will look past the superficial surface of their appearances and dismiss the reasoning underlying their real life roles as feminists as well as their contributions in the media contributing to the American vision of feminism.
Here's a small blog about one of those actresses that unknowingly explains exactly what I mean:
Old Hollywood Films: Marlene Dietrich and Josef von Sternberg
BTW, Marilyn originally wanted to show Marlene as Catherine the Great, but fortunately Avedon convinced Marilyn that Marlene as she was in the Blue Angel was a far more powerful woman. Avedon with his cameras so often revealed the souls of his models and the soul of history as it occurred.
Since I first saw it, the photograph of Marilyn as Theda Bera playing Cleopatra has always intrigued me. Some say Theda was the first film sex symbol, but Cleopatra taught the Roman Empire fear because she found a way to control their heroes. And that photograph evidences the power of Marilyn to subsume herself to a role, you don't see her, barely see Theda, but you can feel the power of Cleopatra
https://evesreellife.wordpress.com/...e-poses-for-life-magazine-and-richard-avedon/
Each of these women contributed, among many others, to the American film industry's image of a sex symbol. And likely no modern feminist will look past the superficial surface of their appearances and dismiss the reasoning underlying their real life roles as feminists as well as their contributions in the media contributing to the American vision of feminism.
Here's a small blog about one of those actresses that unknowingly explains exactly what I mean:
Old Hollywood Films: Marlene Dietrich and Josef von Sternberg
BTW, Marilyn originally wanted to show Marlene as Catherine the Great, but fortunately Avedon convinced Marilyn that Marlene as she was in the Blue Angel was a far more powerful woman. Avedon with his cameras so often revealed the souls of his models and the soul of history as it occurred.
Since I first saw it, the photograph of Marilyn as Theda Bera playing Cleopatra has always intrigued me. Some say Theda was the first film sex symbol, but Cleopatra taught the Roman Empire fear because she found a way to control their heroes. And that photograph evidences the power of Marilyn to subsume herself to a role, you don't see her, barely see Theda, but you can feel the power of Cleopatra