On Marilyn Monroe

More about the book

She was born nearly a century ago and has been gone for well over half that time. The body of work she left behind is limited and sometimes debatable in quality. The environment in which she thrived—popular entertainment in the 1950s—is a distant memory. Yet, these facts seem immaterial. Why does her phenomenon continue unabated? The iconography and mythology surrounding her only seem to grow, leading to endless interest, speculation, and merchandising, as well as numerous documentaries and miniseries. The answer is complex, but one obvious factor is the element of tragedy. Her life, marked by magnetic achievement and sudden demise, invites mourning and speculation about what could have been. Figures like Alexander the Great, Joan of Arc, and Marilyn Monroe evoke similar sentiments. Monroe's rapid rise to fame, the tumult of her personal and professional life, and the ambiguous circumstances of her death create fertile ground for speculation. This has unfortunately led to a franchise of conjecture surrounding her death, often steeped in paranoia and personal agendas. The fascination with her legacy persists, reflecting a deep cultural intrigue that transcends time and context.