FOCUS

THERE IS NO EXPLOITATION LIKE SHOW EXPLOITATION

SIVAN STOLER

Marilyn Monroe has stood as a cultural cornerstone for decades and the world has long been enamored with her life. Blonde, a film about Monroe, premiered at the 79th International Venice Film Festival on Sept. 8, where it received a nomination for Best Film and a 14-minute long standing ovation, as reported by Variety. The movie displays the divide between Norma Jean Mortenson and her stage persona, Marilyn Monroe, by switching aspect ratios and replicating iconic photos of Monroe. The film directed by Andrew Dominik is based on a novel of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates. Although it is written as a biography of Mortenson’s life, Oates explained in the book’s copyright page that it does not intend to accurately depict Mortenson, but instead, uses the subject of Mortenson as a vessel for the idea of the 20th-century celebrity.

Despite this disclaimer, many felt that the film blurred the lines between fact and fiction. An example of a false aspect of Mortenson’s life being presented as true is when her mother, Gladys, is shown as being physically and emotionally abusive toward her. Although Gladys was severely mentally ill and spent most of Mortenson’s life away in a mental hospital, there are no known reports of her physically abusing Mortenson. Similarly, a studio executive assaults Mortenson at the beginning of the film. There is little evidence to suggest this assault ever took place (Vanity Fair). This and the abuse from Gladys could be seen as a mockery of the real abuse Mortenson suffered during her life, such as her exploitation at a young age and the domestic violence she dealt with throughout her relationships (Collider). Freshman Kalli Kastner was confused about what parts of Blonde truly happened and which were made up.

“I did not know much about Monroe going into the movie, but I was interested in knowing more about her life,” Kastner said. “After talking with some of my friends that knew more about her, I realized so much of the movie never actually happened. None of the promotion for Blonde made it obvious that this was a glamorized and false account of Mortenson’s life, not a true biopic. It seems like the people behind Blonde did not truly care about Mortenson’s life and just wanted to make a movie about a character. In which case, using Mortenson to tell this story is cruel because she was a real person who endured real trauma.”

Blonde was also criticized for not including Mortenson’s childhood in foster care, choosing instead to show uncaring neighbors drop off a seven-year-old Mortenson at an orphans’ asylum. It was also missing two true passions of Mortenson’s: her love of acting as an art form and the creation of her own production company which provided fair pay and creative freedom to all actors (Marie Claire). Throughout the film, it is implied that Mortenson only earned her fame in the industry due to the executive who assaulted her in exchange for a movie deal, therefore eradicating the real hard work and talent that led Mortenson to her success, angering viewers (Vanity Fair). One New York Times critic felt that the movie also includes excessive nudity and grossly hypersexualized Mortenson. Freshman Dhaniella Ancheta condemned how Blonde portrayed Mortenson.

“I do not think Blonde handled Mortenson’s legacy properly,” Ancheta said. “Since so much of the book it was based on is fiction, it feels wrong to assign these false stories to the real person that was Mortenson, especially considering the real trauma she faced. It seems like the world has viewed Mortenson as a purely sexual object for a long time, and the amount of nudity in the film reflects that. It is disappointing to see since the movie clearly wanted to show a different side of Mortenson but it still managed to show her in the same light as people have always perceived her.”

The largest and most public controversy regarding Blonde was the pro-life messaging it contained. Although the movie included three instances of Mortenson’s abortions, there are no known accounts of her ever getting one (Vice). In the scene where Mortenson undergoes the first abortion, she decides to not go through with the procedure, just as the doctors are about to begin. The doctors then chase a distressed Mortenson around the hospital and eventually corner her. Mortenson is then forced to have the abortion despite her begging to not go through with it. This mirrors a false pro-life talking point that doctors force women to have abortions for their personal gain, and that abortions are considerably more traumatizing and painful than they truly are (National Public Radio). Before Mortenson has her second abortion, a computer-generated rendition of her unborn fetus is shown. The fetus begs her not to get the abortion in a scene that has been described as “mortifying and disturbing” by USA Today. Conversely, some viewers used Blonde as support of the pro-life stance, saying that Mortenson would have been better off and saved from her tragic death if she had only kept the babies and become a mother (USA Today).

Despite Blonde’s inaccurate portrayal of Mortenson, there are other films and books that have handled her legacy with more sensitivity. Marilyn: Norma Jeane is a biography by Gloria Steinmen that covers the same topic of the separation between Monroe and Mortenson that Blonde attempted. This book was a driving force behind the shift in society’s perception of Monroe by showing her intelligence and kindness that the public was not widely aware of. My Week with a Marylin, a 2011 biographical movie, was acclaimed for its empathetic portrayal of Mortenson. Much like Steinmen’s biography, it displayed the many facets of Mortenson’s personality that made her who she was, something that Blonde was condemned for omitting (Variety). Freshman Allison Kumamoto agreed that Blonde should have focused on other parts of Mortenson’s life.

“The creators of Blonde should have focused more on her career and her as a person and less on her dating life and relationships,” Kumamoto said. “Mortenson had such a unique life story and impact on the world. It is upsetting that a biopic about her which had so much attention drawn to it failed to accurately show who Mortenson was and fell back on old concepts of her.”

HANA FUJI

DRAMATIZATION OF DAHMER

CAORI DEGUZMAN

A recent addition to the collection of various criminal biopics on Netflix, the series “Dahmer–Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” portrays the life of Jeffrey Dahmer in an unusual fashion. Rather than making Dahmer the focal point, those in charge of the show chose to shine a spotlight on Dahmer’s victims by centering the plot around them (National Public Radio). The series reached Netflix’s Top 10 Category after 12 days and within the first week of its release, accumulated 196.2 viewing hours (British Broadcasting Corporation). Although some viewers believe the show honors the individuals assaulted and murdered by Dahmer, there lies a considerable amount of controversy surrounding the ethics of encouraging the true crime genre in mainstream media as well as making money off of the victims of these tragic events. Along with these beliefs, many also acknowledge the thriller series for how much factual accuracy it embodies. Sophomore Ashley Rodriguez credits the show for the amount of research put into it, the attention-to-detail with casting and the recreation of events boosting the integrity of the show for many tuning in.

“The show itself is very accurate, and because of that I feel like it is easier to sympathize with the victims of Dahmer,” Rodriguez said. “I watched the real trial footage with all of the victims speaking before him on Youtube and almost everything is recreated perfectly [from] the actors to their words and their clothes.”

Despite the appraisals on accuracy, depicting the life events of Jeffrey Dahmer on-screen prompted backlash both from the general public and from the friends and families of the victims themselves (TIME). Relatives of the victims who were reimagined in the show were not told of the production, which led to Netflix being accused of insensitivity and crossing ethical boundaries. Clips from the new series recreating the emotional breakdown of Rita Isbell, the sister of the victim Errol Lindsey, were criticized by a relative of Isbell in a recent tweet that discussed the negative impact of the show for the families and friends of victims. According to the New York Times, viewing this viral scene along with the rest of the show is demoralizing for the individuals affected by Dahmer, and glamorizes the man who committed these murders in the first place.

The official synopsis of “Monster” communicates that the show aims to highlight the crimes of Dahmer, his victims from minority populations and the failures of the Milwaukee police department at the time for not recognizing the murders happening (Newsweek). The director of “Monster,” Ryan Murphy, denotes that he did not want to center the serial killer himself in his new show but rather bring to light the lives and tragedies of the victims coming from Black, Latino and Asian LGBTQ+ backgrounds and the assumed incompetencies of the police force during these events (Vulture). On the other hand, a number of viewers believe that the production simply was not executed properly or did not pay enough homage to the individuals most affected by the Milwaukee murders like its producers promised. Film critics such as Matt Mueller, a culture editor for On Milwaukee, wrote that the series does not uphold the promise of shifting the limelight to the survivors and the people murdered by Dahmer. According to Mueller, the series took the time to feature the growing obsessions and curiosities of Dahmer during the discovery of the murders, ironically leaving out the message of how systemic issues, such as the dismissive racism from police officers, are overlooked in the background.

Along with the criticism, news of the thriller series eventually gained more recognition through social media apps such as TikTok, where some users reportedly idolized Dahmer even further. Many argue how the trends on the app, which includes fans focusing on the attractiveness of Dahmer or overly sympathizing with his situation, prove that the show portrays the serial killer from a romanticized perspective (Newsweek). The popularization of the show also inspired the sales of Dahmer Halloween costumes on eBay, though these costumes were eventually banned from the online marketplace (Kidspot). Senior Nicholas Cha acknowledges the significance of film producers commemorating victims and the lives they lead, but he finds the methods used stray off their main intent and become problematic in the process.

“I think it is extremely important for the victims to be remembered, but there are also problems with creating a show about a serial killer,” Cha said. “I have already seen TikToks where people idolize and sexualize Dahmer because of his portrayal in the show. It is very disheartening to see especially because it means that the victims and their families are being overshadowed.”

The popularity of true crime and the demand for it in mainstream media continues beyond the realm of Jeffrey Dahmer flicks. Thriller shows and films focused on real-life murders and assaults such as “I Am a Killer” and “Tiger King” are peppered across streaming services. The popularity of these films and series suggest a pattern of romanticization and encouragement that make light of the crimes committed by serial killers and sex offenders (Palatinate). The way that they are turned into sex symbols contributes to this romanticization. In the 2019 film “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile,” the popular actor Zac Efron is casted for the leading role as Ted Bundy. Good Morning America (GMA) mentions how fans have commented on the appearance of Efron, viewing him as attractive, despite Bundy being known for targeting young women to murder, mutilate and rape. Senior Matthew Sun considers how some onlookers may choose to disguise their romantic treatment as film appreciation rather than their lack of courtesy for the families of victims and the victims themselves.

“I think it is fine to appreciate true crime media, but it becomes a problem when people glorify murderers because of how they are portrayed in a movie or show,” Sun said. “The fact that people like Dahmer and Bundy have fanbases is disgusting and extremely disrespectful to the victims. I think the creators of the show Dahmer definitely should have taken more care to respect the victims and the wishes of their families.”

8 SIT BACK WITH FISHBACK

JACELYN CHEN

Approximately one out of every five high school students between the ages of 12 and 18 suffer from at least one diagnosable mental health disorder (Adolescent Wellness Academy). Diagnosable mental health disorders encompass emotional, psychological and social well-being. Throughout the past year, mental health information has been more widely advertised throughout high schools. More than 80% of high schools across California are gradually implementing efforts to address depression and promote mental health awareness (Research and Development Organization). Aiming to provide more mental health care, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) made the addition of another therapist available to students in need at Peninsula. The district works with Sage, a nonprofit therapy agency that contracts with local school districts, to provide temporary support for students who desire help.

The extended Sage therapist team now includes Megan Fishback. Fishback found a love for spreading mental health awareness during an internship that dealt with counseling high school students at her undergraduate college, Loyola Marymount University. She soon decided that studying counseling psychology was her passion and went on to pursue her master’s degree at Pepperdine University. With her master’s degree, she applied to be a part of the Sage therapist program, which led to her becoming a student support specialist at Peninsula. Fishback hopes to provide the support that students need while also educating those who want to understand more about mental health.

“I hope to support the students on a social and emotional level,” Fishback said. “I want to help students learn how to cope and undermine the inevitable stress that comes with being a student. While it may be hard sometimes, I will always be an available support network for those who are in need of one.”

Choosing the right Sage therapist includes an evaluation of how well the therapist would interact with the students and if they seem like they will positively impact the environment at school. If the potential therapist demonstrates an ability to sufficiently support young kids on a school campus, they will be moved through the initial panel process and assessed more thoroughly. Principal Brent Kuykendall proposed the addition of a new therapist at the start of this school year and enlisted the help of PVPUSD to execute the proposition. With the addition of Fishback, Kuykendall is excited to have three fulltime therapists on campus now, who are readily available to help students throughout the school day. As a former student at Peninsula, he has also gone through the obstacles that current students endure, he wants to create an environment where students can feel comfortable sharing their struggles. He enjoys sharing his personal high school experiences with students who are struggling to assure them that they are not alone. Kuykendall hopes that Fishback’s extra support will help expand the safe spaces on campus where students can continue to nurture their mental health.

“The application of a new therapist [makes all the difference],” Kuykendall said. “Seeing as Peninsula has the reputation of being academically rigorous, I believe that the therapists are here to support more and more students. Each therapist [excels] in their own way and I am really appreciative of them.”

As Sage therapy has become more advertised to the students through bulletins or announcements in recent years, many have been able to begin attending sessions with student support specialists.

JIHEE SEO

Students can reach out to the specialists during school hours or chat with them individually through Microsoft Teams to schedule an appointment. The wellness center that the Sage therapists work in provides a welcoming space for students, as they have posters with positive aspirations and fidget toys for the students to play with. Junior Delany O’Connor reached out to the Sage therapist team in 2021 when she was having difficulty in her personal life. O’Connor understands the importance of a healthy mental mindset and is thankful for the therapists at Peninsula who cared for and listened to her. “Ultimately I noticed the environment was very welcoming,” O’Connor said. “They were [tremendously] understanding of my situation and worked hard to provide help for me. As I went to the sessions more often, I felt more comfortable and [it has definitely] helped with my mental health.”

JIHOON KWON

In May of her junior year, senior Elise Lee began her own Gel-X nail business that she manages through the Instagram handle @purslaynails. Her business grew rapidly and she attracted multiple clients in her first week. Even before starting the business, Lee had always enjoyed getting her nails done, but she felt that going to a nail salon could sometimes be too expensive, leading her to purchase a Gel-X kit online and teach herself how to do nails at home. Gel-X is a new type of nail treatment that provides the strength of gel and length of acrylics, without the damage to the natural nails underneath. She would practice doing Gel-X nails on herself first, then on her friends. When they saw Lee’s skills improve, her friends encouraged her to start a business. To begin, she needed to obtain the necessary tools; she purchased a nail drill, a nail lamp, nail polish, gels and charms for a total of around $140 to the total cost. After she acquired all the necessities, she advertised her work on social media. The appointments are scheduled through direct messaging on Instagram, and potential clients have to send available dates and pictures for reference. The flat rate for one set of nails is $50, which is which is immensely cheaper than some professional acrylic nail salons that charge up to $100 or more. Lee booked six clients during her first week and quickly started to make a profit. Senior Samantha Steigh, one of Lee’s earliest clients, was deeply pleased with Lee’s work and low prices, which led her to set up a few more appointments. “The environment is unique,” Steigh said. “It is in her home where she provides snacks, plays music and makes the overall vibe good. I was very satisfied afterwards because she had done the exact design I wanted. She is nice and considerate, asking if doing certain things to your nails are okay before actually doing them. I have gone back multiple times after the first time because I was satisfied with her work and the prices were good.”

Another client and a friend of Lee, senior Zaya Enkh-Amgalan, was also satisfied with the experience. Lee’s cleanliness and hygiene were especially impressive.

“I really liked her ideas,” Enkh said. “She knew how I wanted to get my nails done. She can do any designs on my nails, which is really impressive because I cannot do anything on my nails. Also, she is very clean with hygiene. She cuts the cuticles and cleans them before she paints them.”

Lee admitted that it was difficult to balance the time she puts into the nail business with other aspects of her life. However, she was able to solve this as she improved her time management between appointments and extracurriculars. Another problem she faced was that when she increased the price of her services, many customers were confused. She had to explain that this was because she purchased new, more expensive tools.

The nail art business is not something Lee plans to do in the long term future. However, she explained that she will not be going to an esthetician school since she does not see herself becoming a nail technician. Currently, she plans to continue this pursuit as a side job even after graduation. Lee truly enjoys running her shop and is especially thrilled by the joy of positive comments.

“It feels great [to get good reviews],” Lee said. “A lot of the time, my customers [tell me I can] do whatever [I] want on the design and they just give me no boundaries, so I [get] creative freedom. It means a lot more when they like those sets [because] it is something that I put together instead of copying. It is really gratifying.”

KIARA LEE