The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is launching a major exhibition to mark the centenary of Marilyn Monroe’s birth, seeking to re-examine her complex legacy. Moving beyond the simplified tropes of the tragic starlet, the show investigates whether Monroe was a passive victim of the Hollywood studio system or a savvy, self-aware architect of her own public persona.
This retrospective arrives at a time of renewed cultural obsession with Monroe, following high-profile tributes by modern celebrities and controversial biographical depictions in media. By centering the exhibition at a premier cinematic institution, the curators aim to provide a definitive, nuanced look at how Monroe navigated fame, power, and image-making, offering a critical reappraisal of one of the 20th century's most enduring icons.