What her films reveal about the woman behind the myth – The Irish Times

The Digital Ghost: AI and the Evolution of the Celebrity Persona

For decades, the world has grappled with the gap between Norma Jeane Mortenson and the platinum-blonde avatar known as Marilyn Monroe. This tension—between the human being and the curated image—is no longer just a biographical curiosity. We see becoming the blueprint for the future of entertainment.

As we enter the era of generative AI and high-fidelity digital twins, the “persona” is being decoupled from the biological person entirely. We are moving toward a world where a celebrity’s image can continue to “work,” evolve, and star in new projects long after their death, or even while they are still alive.

Consider the rise of “digital resurrections.” While early attempts were clunky CGI, modern neural networks can now synthesize a voice and likeness with haunting accuracy. The risk is that we may permanently erase the “real” person in favor of a perfected, AI-driven caricature—essentially creating a digital version of the 1950s studio system on steroids.

Beyond the Male Gaze: The Shift Toward Multifaceted Identity

The provided analysis of Monroe’s films highlights a recurring theme: the “bombshell” who is secretly the smartest person in the room. This subversion of the male gaze is becoming the dominant trend in modern storytelling.

Future trends in cinema and streaming suggest a move away from “archetype” casting. We are seeing a transition from the “singular icon” to the “complex human.” Where 20th-century studios manufactured a specific type of femininity—amenable, aspiring, and sexually available—modern audiences demand authenticity and agency.

This shift is evident in the “deconstructionist” trend of current biopics and dramas, which prioritize the psychological turmoil and intellectual ambitions of the subject over the glamour of their public image. The “Marilyn movie” of the future won’t be about the dress blowing over a grate; it will be about the labor and the cost of maintaining the mask.

The Rise of the “Anti-Icon”

We are witnessing the birth of the “Anti-Icon.” In an age of Instagram filters and curated perfection, there is a growing market for radical transparency. Future stars will likely lean into their flaws and contradictions as a way to build trust with an audience that is increasingly cynical toward manufactured celebrity.

The Financialization of Legacy: Fame as a Permanent Asset

The posthumous use of Monroe’s image—from Warhol’s prints to luxury perfumes—was an early precursor to what we now call the “Legacy Economy.” In the future, a celebrity’s likeness will be treated as a diversified financial asset.

With the advent of blockchain and smart contracts, the management of a “persona” can be automated. We may see “Legacy NFTs” or digital licensing agreements where an estate can lease a star’s digital twin for specific campaigns, ensuring the “brand” remains evergreen without the unpredictability of a living human actor.

However, this leads to a profound ethical crossroads: Who owns the right to a person’s soul once they are gone? When a persona becomes a product, the human being—the Norma Jeane behind the Marilyn—is often the first thing to be discarded in favor of profitability.

The Paradox of the Famous Enigma in a Transparent World

Marilyn Monroe was a “famous enigma,” a woman the world felt they knew but didn’t. In the future, the concept of the “enigma” may vanish entirely. With 24/7 access via social media and “behind-the-scenes” content, the mystery that fueled the mythology of the Golden Age is being replaced by hyper-visibility.

Yet, this transparency often creates a new kind of mask. The “relatable” celebrity is often just as constructed as the “bombshell.” The future trend will likely be a cyclical return to mystery—a deliberate withdrawal from the public eye as a luxury status symbol.