Some Kind of Mirror

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 star persona. Yet this ignores both the subtle variations between these roles and the acting skill that went into the creation of Monroes public persona. Some Kind of Mirror offers the first extended scholarly analysis of Marilyn Monroes film performances, examining how they united the contradictory discourses about womens roles in 1950s America. Amanda Konkle suggests that Monroes star persona resonated with audiences precisely because it engaged with the eras critical debates regarding femininity, sexuality, marriage, and political activism. Furthermore, she explores how Monroe drew from the techniques of Method acting and finely calibrated her performances to better mirror her audiences anxieties and desires. Drawing both from Monroes 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 Monroe a star, but it is also about how Marilyn defined an era.