Idols, then and now

This weekend, the independent film “My Week With Marilyn” hit limited theaters and depicted a brutally honest and hauntingly beautiful representation of the American star, Miss Monroe.

Michelle Williams captured the poignant yet unsettling traits and oddities of Monroe’s persona in addition to a striking resemblance. She brilliantly played the icon. Something I found to be funny is the acting, while spot-on and smartly played, was not doing nearly as much work as her appearance was.

The film constantly played into appearances, making sure the audience knew whenever Marilyn was entering a room. Her giggles could speak volumes, and her smile alone caught my attention for the duration of the movie.

Music played to her movement, and where her dialogue was notable, more was said in what she didn’t say. The irony here is while Williams might have been putting her best foot forward in the acting field, her looks filled the job.

Much like Monroe herself, true talent and Thespian wit was lost in people’s gaze. Audiences are doomed to look before they listen. The film made me think about how we view icons — whether in popular culture, or as celebrities in general. Has our view on celebrities improved? Meaning, do we admire celebrities for the work they do or the fame they radiate?

In “The Muppets,” another film that came out this weekend, one muppet expresses that “celebrities are not a ‘people,’” and where the line was all in good fun, it illuminates some truth.

When we think about Marilyn Monroe, do we ever think “Oh yes, Monroe the actress,” or “Marilyn, the singer.” No, it’s “Marilyn Monroe, the icon.” She was not a performer so much as she was an object, and where many of us would like to think otherwise, these views categorize our icons.

We tend to draw a line between “talent” and “object.” What do we think of first when with think of Gaga? Her singing might be sweet, but her appearances overcome. She is an object. But could we ever compare her to the likes of Marilyn Monroe?

Despite the fact celebrities create shallowness in us all, we need them just as much as they need us. Marilyn was admired because audiences needed to know that flawlessness existed. We need something to worship even if that makes us less of a “people.”

­— ftirado@indiana.edu