Mid-Summer Waxing Honey Flow Moon
So. Attended a political meeting in the morning, came home, took a long nap, got up and put Helmsman varnish on the honey supers, six, then went up and watched some TV after a conversation with Mark and Kate.
Today had one weird announcement. This statue of Marilyn Monroe in Chicago. Only time will tell if it is really in as bad a taste as it seems to be. Not sure quite what to think of it. Guess I’d have to see it in person. No, I would have to see it in person.
What’s good. It’s a famous image, made bigger than lifesize in a believable way. It’s either saucy or sexist, or both. It puts the whole 1950’s/1960’s era right there, in the midst of 21st century Chicago. It’s pop art, I suppose. It is a joyous image, a woman apparently secure in her sexuality and having fun. It is a heroine sized sculpture, a monumental tip of the hat to Marilyn, a complex figure for 1960’s era boys and girls.
What’s bad. It invites the pictures I’ve already seen posted of men standing between her legs and looking up. Of course, that’s on the men, yes, but still. It draws us into a stereotypical display of woman as object, as object of desire, of silly non-chalance as an antidote for prurience. (which, come to think of it, maybe it is.) It plays to our cult of the celebrity. (or, does it play with our cult of celebrity?)
If you’ve seen it, I’m interested in what you thought.