Stardom As A System By Mae West

Since the inception of the American film industry in the early 1900s, the concept of a Hollywood “star” has accompanied the success of studios of films. Withmeticulous crafting and publicity, normal actors can become an alluring figure in society, constantly gaining the attention of audiences. An article entitled Stardom as a System describes the truth behind these famous actors, “stars are mediated identities, textual constructions, for audiences do not get the real person, but rather a collection of images, words and sounds which are taken to stand for the person” (McDonald 6). The processes behind the creation of the image of the stars is a significant part of the film industry as production companies depend on the success of their stars.

The press at the time reflected these contrasting opinions as The New Movie Magazine notes Mae West as having “this warm, gracious quality which has made her become the celebrity she is today” (Weir 22). On the other hand, the same article questions whether the sexual nature of her performances are harmful; “is she a gusty, invigorating force?... Is she a rowdy, damaging influence?” (23). These quotes exemplify the dichotomy presented by the press. Although some articles conjure an image of feminine grace, there are still questions as to whether her overtly sexual film persona is too controversial for the time. By mentioning this contradiction, intrigue into the contentious material grows as does her

The press at the time of Mae West's prominence fueled this mystery by claiming, “the real Mae West will never be seen on screen.” (Churchill 49). The idea of never being able to find the true Mae West aided in her maintaining her stardom and importance in society as consumers are constantly eager to discover new information about a star. Furthermore, there was a stark contrast between her private life and the persona she depicted on screen. A journalist once described her characters as a “menace to the nation’s morals” all while the actions in her private life remained pure; she claimed to be sober and never married (Dowling, 33). In order to keep her star power, the image of her being chaste was perpetuated throughout articles and interviews, as she continually denied marriage; “I’ve made some mistakes in my life but never such a mistake as a husband” (Calhoun, 60). However, after years of denying any relations with men, divorce papers revealed she was previously married for many years. The repeated lying about her marriage status demonstrates how essential her being single was to her public persona and in turn her success. As much as her talent and films appealed to people, so did her beauty, if she was “off the market” her appeal to men would decrease. Therefore, in order to continue to be as profitable as possible, she remained single in the public eye for as long