This video features in a responsive display in the museum that presents the moments, stories and memes capturing the zeitgeist by going viral on the internet.
Is Blonde, a fictionalised look at Marilyn Monroe’s life by Melbourne director Andrew Dominik (Chopper, The Assassination of Jesse James), honouring or exploiting the star’s legacy? Reviews are divided, but Iconic images from Monroe’s life and work, along with the film’s recreation of many of these moments are being used on social media to both damn and praise the film, ensuring Monroe’s complex role in pop culture continues to resonate. By remixing scenes from the film, social video makers can at least salvage the visually striking elements of the film to focus on the cinematography and Ana de Armas’ performance, yet continued recycling of Monroe’s image creates a chasm between person and her persona, removing agency in favour of the ongoing perpetuation of a myth.
Instead of obsessing only over Monroe’s image, other social media accounts have shared facts and information about the icon that defy the ‘blonde bombshell’ archetype. Diet Prada created a tiled post titled ‘More than her trauma’, using the popular online listicle style of article to celebrate Monroe’s trailblazing activism against Hollywood sexism, fight for equal pay, support for LGBTQIA+ rights and philanthropy.
"It strips her of her identity, her humanity, her personhood," says TikTok user jordxn.simone, in an example of a to-camera reaction/review, which are popular on the platform.
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How to watch
Collection
Not in ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
B2000933
Curatorial section
The Story of the Moving Image → Moving Minds → MM-09. Catch of the Day
Object Types
Moving image file/Digital
Materials
Digital screen recording of @cinerobz's Tik Tok