Thinks happen: The Marilyn Moment

Each of these photographs refers to the "Marilyn Moment" somewhere in the image, title or comment.

There was some discussion about how the relatively few photographs of the actual event evolved into seemingly endless references. See these...

It was only a publicity stunt dreamed up by director Billy Wilder.

And so a little scene from the “Seven Year Itch” a movie from 1955, left a lasting impression on the world. More than fifty years later the scene is still quoted or remembered when anything resembling Marilyn Monroe’s blowing skirt is encountered.

Great statues or important portraits take us only to a general memory of something or someone, an ideal or an idea.

There have been only a scant few visual items that imbed in our memories so deeply that they become our signal reference point at each reminder. Can you look at two parallel smokestacks on a skyline without thinking of the Twin Towers? When you see two people running toward each other do you think of Heathcliff and Catherine from the movie Wuthering Heights? These are unintentional or general stimuli that take your mind to a specific bit of time.

Marilyn reincarnation
- Wild Animal Park SD
originally uploaded by
Californie

I'm Losin' It!
originally uploaded by
Peggy Collins

Non-visual triggers are fairly common. When the Johann Strauss “Blue Danube Waltz” is heard, who does not think of a space ship dockingin 2001:A Space Odyssey? Few of us go anywhere else in our mind. If you hear the words “Grassy Knoll”, do you think of the Kennedy Assassination?

The “William Tell Overture” means the “Lone Ranger” to us older folks but that’s just a general memory, not a specific moment. In fact, sounds or music will often take our minds to something general. And there are lots of individual, personal hooks we have: “Our” song or mom’s pot roast.

Now think of a visual image that takes a majority of people back to a specific event.
There are only a few.

Pop culture and advertising have given us the orange Tide box, Mickey Mouse, Joe the Camel or Bart Simpson…These are visuals that take you to a GENERAL place, not a specific moment in time.

When seeing the delicate petals of a white poppy fluttering in the breeze, a bit of tissue caught on a twig, or a skirt caught in a sudden gust of wind, do you think of this brief publicity stunt from Billy Wilder? Do you think of Norma Jean Baker? Apparently a very broad spectrum of people do.

All of these pictures from dear Flickr friends refer to Marilyn Monroe in the title or the comments. Please click through to see their larger versions.

And go see this at JeansMusicBlog: On this day 1954 : Marilyn Monroe marries It's a fine blog.