The Statue Of Art In Billy Wilder's Forever Marilyn Monroe

When hearing the name “Marilyn Monroe” most people picture the beautiful blonde woman striking her famous subway grate pose. This Pose is from Billy Wilder’s landmark 1955 film, “The Seven Year Itch” (Anthony). As an artist, Seward Johnson saw this iconic pose as an opportunity to make an eye catching statue entitled Forever Marilyn. “The “Forever Marilyn” 26-foot-tall statue went on display in July 2011 at the Pioneer court in Chicago” (Anthony). “The artists told CBS 2 the statue is intended to celebrate everything Marilyn stood for. That’s what art is supposed to do, he said. The sculpture was built in a studio in New Jersey and brought to Chicago. It is aluminum from the waist up, but below the waist she’s a woman of steel. That’s because so

“The artwork features spike- heeled Marilyn in her ivory-colored windblown dress, exposing her laced underwear and whipping up a storm among Chicago’s art community, art critics, and feminists. Yet it became an instant tourist attraction, with crowds of visitors posing for Chicago’s hottest photo op.” (Anthony). The “Forever Marilyn” statue is controversial because it is placed in the wrong setting, brings shame to famous star Marilyn Monroe, and its provocative nature is offending. “Sixty years ago, on September 15th, 1954, Marilyn Monroe stood on a subway grate in New York City wearing a little white dress and fought an upward breeze. The scene from the Seven Year Itch, went on to become one of the most iconic moments in movie history” (That). Since the statue designed by Seward Johnson was based off the film, why was the art work put on display in Chicago? Since Johnson wanted to celebrate Marilyn Monroe he decided to place the statue in Chicago as a tourist attraction. “Compared to these small-scale installations dispersed