The Immortal Marilyn

The Depiction of an Icon

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by John De Vito and Frank Tropea

Type

Studies

Subject

Actress > Marilyn Monroe

Keywords

Marilyn Monroe, myth

Publishing date

2006

Publisher

Scarecrow Press

Language

English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Paperback • 240 pages
6 x 9 inches (15 x 23 cm)

ISBN-10
ISBN-13

0-8108-5866-5
978-0-8108-5866-4

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Book Presentation:
From the late 1940s to the early '60s, Marilyn Monroe appeared in barely thirty movies, beginning with bit parts and moving on into supporting roles for such films as The Asphalt Jungle, All About Eve, and Clash by Night. She soon shot to international fame and gained prominent roles in a number of classics like The Seven Year Itch, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Some Like It Hot. By the time of her early death in 1962, she had already become established as one of the great icons of the silver screen.

Even early in her career, Monroe had been a source of inspiration for playwrights, filmmakers, and others looking to cash in on her tremendous impact. In The Immortal Marilyn: The Depiction of an Icon, authors John DeVito and Frank Tropea chronicle the many representations of Marilyn Monroe in the performing arts, from the 1950s to the present day. In a decade-by-decade review, the authors examine how Marilyn is portrayed in four distinct modes: as herself, as a Roman à Clef character, as a referent, and as a documentary subject. By looking closely at these individual works, the authors reveal the ways in which her persona, her history, and―most of all―her image have been appropriated for both fact and fiction.

From an episode of I Love Lucy to Arthur Miller's play The Fall, from adaptations of works by Norman Mailer and Joyce Carol Oates to an ever-growing list of documentaries, Monroe has been the subject of countless depictions on stage, screen, radio, and television. Monroe is adored, imitated, and idolized, and the enormous amount of material written about her―either directly or indirectly―proves that she will continue to be a source of interest and speculation.

The first real analysis of all the many complex meanings that Marilyn Monroe has come to assume, this book attempts to encapsulate and understand the enormous influence the actress had on the public and the wide range of creative talents who found her such an intriguing subject.

About the authors:
John DeVito is a Film Technician at the Boston Public Library and holds a BA in Visual Studies from Harvard University.Frank Tropea is a Case Specialist at the Cambridge District Courthouse and holds a BA in English Literature and Psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and an MA in Literature and Psychology from Harvard University.

Press Reviews:
"Don't expect your usual light treatment for general-interest audiences: this is scholarly, college-level material perfect for college-level drama and acting collections, especially those with history holdings." ―Library Bookwatch

"The study is exceptionally well conceived and presented. It makes for a fascinating reference and cultural study even if you are not particularly a Monroe fan." ―The Big Reel

See the publisher website: Scarecrow Press

See the complete filmography of Marilyn Monroe on the website: IMDB ...