Day Two

Undressing cinema

Clothing and identity in the movies

Stella Bruzzi

Coco Chanel suggests that women must become one with their clothes, and it should reflect their beauty, not over overshadow it. However to be appropriate to a garment is interesting in the case of Pretty Woman in which a hooker is made into a higher class woman with a change of wardrobe. Is this suggesting that a woman who is previously restricted due to her financial situation is a natural waiting to happen? Or is it perhaps the clothes that make the woman?

Marilyn Monroe, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Pamela Church Gibson made a comment towards Monroe's female co-star Jane Russell, within the gym scene in which Jane is described as looking almost amazonian. I found it interesting that during the scene, she is incredibly dominating, and the men around appear to react to her by showing no reaction at all, they ignore her presence. It isn't until she is knocked into the pool and shows weakness that she is recognised and acknowledged by the athletes surrounding her. To me this suggests that men during this period didn't accept women having power over men. A comment by Monroe during the film is also evident of gender inequalities, in that men don't like a woman to be smart, and that although Marilyn appears to be dumb she can be smart when she needs to be. Russell imitating Monroe for the court case, is an interesting display of how Marilyn presents herself, silly, flirty and in performance purely for the entertainment of men. This for me is interesting to see the contrast between the women, and the suggestion during the film that Monroe will be more successful because her beauty and charm will find her a rich man, unlike Russell.

This image in particular demonstrates the contrast between the women. Monroe with white hair, a wide eyed innocent expression, and her legs folded, appears like the perfect woman for the time. Russell with her dark hair, serious expression and led spread on the other hand looks rather masculine and defiant in comparison.