I don't know much about Anna Nicole Smith, but I have a sudden urge to write about her. I hope readers will forgive me if this post turns out to be (1) utterly foolish, (2) what everyone else has been saying, or (3) both.
When I was growing up the "blonde bombshell" heading towards a tragic end was a staple of American culture. We had at least two of them -- Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield. Around the time that Monroe and Mansfield died, Hollywood came out with two movies about Jean Harlow, an earlier version of the same tragic phenomenonl.
I may be wrong about this, but it seems to me that the movie industry isn't serving up stars in the Harlow, Monroe, Mansfield tradition anymore; nor do as many stars seem to be driving themselves over the cliff (unless you count bad politics). But presumably there's still a considerable demand for (1) dumb-acting blondes with big breasts and (2) bizarre celebrity behavior that produces a tragic end. It is therefore up to the vast pop culture outside the movie industry to come through. Into this breach rode Anna Nichole Smith. She stood and delivered, and thus earned her status as a celebrity and/or icon.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. I suspect that she will soon be forgotten. She accomplished little in life except to make a spectacle of herself. If only she had sung Happy Birthday to Bill Clinton ... or even contributed a stained dress, she'd be remembered forever.
Rocketman ~Ä~ at 4:36PM on Mar 3rd 2007
2. With all these men claiming paternity for Anna's baby - she must have been shoving them out the back door before opening the front door to the next one.
How many others are there, afraid to come out of their 'closet' for fear of divorce and/or public humility. I was born and raised in Mpls - just happened to wind up in Dallas with the
Dallas Cowboys. LOVE YOUR BLOGS, PULL THEM UP DAILY. Thanks for your great articles - they make my day!
Kay Lang at 9:32PM on Mar 3rd 2007
3. I just want someone to tell me what all the fuss is about.
I am sorry she died, but how is she that big a deal? There were/are far more important things going on than the fact her family have no self-respect in her death.
Noela at 12:31AM on Mar 4th 2007
4. Leave the poor dead girl alone, for God's sake. This is why I don't believe in organized religion. How many of you out there judging her claim to be forgiving Christians? Someday her little girl is going to read all this garbage because as we all know.........what goes on the internet stays on the internet. Did none of your parents teach you that if you don't have anything nice to say to not say anything? Anna Nicole, Rest in Peace - any Christian and/or God-fearing person will tell you that you deserve it. Also, for those of you commenting on all the men - just cuz they claim it don't make it so (or did your mommas not teach you that either). By the way, I am not some stick in the mud but am just sick, sick, sick of the vitriolic hate. Peace
Diane G. at 11:04AM on Mar 4th 2007
5. I never paid too much attention to her. You couldn't help hearing her name from time to time and I did watch the first episode of her reality show. I turned it off, feeling embarrassed. I was no better than one of those people who used go into Bedlam and watch the mentally ill, or someone at freak shows laughing at the pinheads. I came away with a feeling of shame and the certainty that her son's life was hell.
These women seem to have certain elements to their lives, some more, some less: bad childhoods; poor decision-making; exploitive hangers-on; mental illness and/or substance abuse and/or below average intelligence.
Anna has something more. She seems to be a vortex that sucks in all the weirdness around her and magnifies it. How else to explain getting that nutty judge in the dispute over her body? Of the judges who might have presided, she gets a Show Biz wanna be?
Donna C at 11:43AM on Mar 4th 2007
6. Having visited there, Mexia, Texas is a nice sort of town, but I can understand her wanting to sell chicken somewhere else. The Bahamas possibly. Even so, she was a sweet heart who had a reputation.
Caponer at 2:02PM on Mar 4th 2007
7. Who cares about a drug addict slut?
Samual F. Rindge at 2:03PM on Mar 4th 2007