Marilyn Monroe's Ankle Monitor: A Symbol Of Control

In 2011, Lindsay Lohan recreated an iconic image of Marilyn Monroe, wearing an ankle monitor. Lohan's accessory was the result of several brushes with the law, including a DUI arrest in 2007. In the image, Lohan stands over an air vent, wearing a white dress, echoing a famous photograph of Monroe.

Lindsay Lohan recreated the iconic image

Lindsay Lohan recreated Marilyn Monroe's iconic subway grate photo, complete with an ankle monitor, in 2013. Lohan, who was no stranger to legal troubles, had been ordered to wear the monitor in 2011 after several probation violations and failing to comply with court orders.

In the original photo, Monroe stands over a subway grate in a white dress, which billows up as the wind blows from below. The image, from the 1955 film "The Seven Year Itch," has become one of the most famous and enduring images of the Hollywood star.

Lohan's recreation of the photo was met with mixed reactions. Some viewed it as a bold statement, with one Twitter user commenting, "Nothing says sexy badass more." Lohan's version also drew attention to the similarities between the two actresses' experiences with fame and legal troubles. Both Monroe and Lohan struggled with addiction and had multiple run-ins with the law.

However, not everyone was impressed by Lohan's tribute. One Reddit user commented, "Marilyn is copied so much that it's sort of cliche and unimaginative to do something like this." They went on to say that they wished people would stop copying Monroe and leave her to rest in peace.

Despite the varying opinions, Lohan's recreation of the iconic image remains a notable moment in pop culture, highlighting the continued influence of Monroe's legacy.

Lohan's run-ins with the law

Lindsay Lohan's run-ins with the law began in 2007 and include arrests for driving under the influence, possession of cocaine, and assault. She has also been charged with probation violations, theft, and driving without a license.

In May 2007, Lohan was arrested after her Mercedes convertible struck a curb outside a Los Angeles club. She was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, and police found cocaine at the scene. Two days later, she checked into rehab.

In July 2007, Lohan was arrested again on similar charges, including driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license, and possession of narcotics. She checked into rehab once more, mere hours after her arrest.

In August 2007, she reached a plea deal and was sentenced to one day in jail, 10 days of community service, and the completion of a drug treatment program. She was also placed on 36 months of probation and ordered to complete an alcohol education program and pay fines. As part of her plea deal, she also had to visit a morgue and talk to victims of drunken drivers.

In October 2009, Lohan was given an additional 12 months of probation due to her failure to complete court-ordered alcohol education classes.

In June 2010, an arrest warrant was issued for Lohan after she violated a court order to refrain from consuming alcohol while wearing an alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet. The warrant was later recalled after she posted bail.

In July 2010, Lohan was sentenced to 90 days in jail and 90 days in rehab for violating her probation. She served 14 days in jail due to overcrowding and was then transferred to a medical center to continue her court-ordered rehab.

In September 2010, Lohan's probation was revoked after she failed a drug test. She spent one day in jail and was then sent to the Betty Ford Center for three months.

In February 2011, Lohan was charged with burglary after leaving a jewelry store with a $2,500 necklace. She pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 120 days in jail, 360 hours of community service, and 120 hours of service at the L.A. County morgue. Due to overcrowding, she was assigned house arrest and ordered to wear a tracking ankle monitor for 35 days.

In October 2011, her probation was revoked again after she failed to complete her court-ordered community service. She was sentenced to 30 days in jail but was released after a few hours due to overcrowding.

In June 2012, Lohan was involved in another car accident, crashing her Porsche into an 18-wheeler on the Pacific Coast Highway. There were questions about whether she had lied to the police about who was driving, which could have led to additional charges and jail time.

In September 2012, Lohan was arrested in New York City after a reported hit-and-run outside a hotel. Prosecutors later declined to pursue the case. That same month, she was involved in an argument with a part-time congressional aide, who was arrested for assaulting her. The charges against him were later dropped.

In October 2012, the police were called to Lohan's Long Island home after she and her mother, Dina, got into an argument that prompted a domestic violence call. No charges were filed.

Lohan's ankle monitor was court-ordered

In 2010, Lindsay Lohan was ordered by Beverly Hills Superior Court Judge Marsha Revel to wear an alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet. Lohan had to wear the monitor as a condition for remaining free on bond after missing a mandatory hearing stemming from her 2007 DUI arrest. The actress claimed that her passport had been stolen while she was in France, which prevented her from showing up in court. Lohan's lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holley, argued that the "bulky bracelet" would interfere with the actress's upcoming photo shoots and movie in Texas. However, Judge Revel was unmoved and stated that "the court does not intend to change it."

Lohan was required to abstain from alcohol, wear the ankle monitor, and submit to weekly random drug tests. In addition, she was ordered to complete alcohol education classes. On May 26, 2010, Lohan's ankle monitor sounded an alarm while she attended an after-party for the MTV Movie Awards, indicating the presence of a small amount of alcohol. This triggered a bench warrant for her arrest, as she was found to be in "violation of the conditions of her bail." Lohan posted new bail of $200,000 to avoid being detained.

Lohan's run-ins with the law continued, and in 2011, she was sentenced to 120 days in jail for stealing a diamond necklace. However, due to jail overcrowding, she was instead placed under house arrest and fitted with an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet. She served her sentence at her home in Venice Beach, California, for about 35 days. During this time, Lohan recreated an iconic Marilyn Monroe moment by posing in a white dress with her ankle monitor on full display. This infamous photo became a symbol of her defiance and brought new life to one of the most iconic actresses of all time.

Marilyn Monroe's original image

Monroe's screen persona focused on her blonde hair and the stereotypes associated with it, including dumbness, naïveté, sexual availability, and artificiality. She cultivated friendships with gossip columnists and controlled the use of her images. She was also compared to other famous blondes of the time, including Jean Harlow and Betty Grable.

Monroe's image was that of the "beautiful blonde girl", who is defined solely by her gender. Her roles were almost always chorus girls, secretaries, or models—occupations where "the woman is on show, there for the pleasure of men." She was also noted for her hourglass figure and was often positioned in film scenes so that her curvy silhouette was on full display. She frequently posed like a pin-up in publicity photos, wearing revealing outfits that showed off her figure.

Monroe's image was that of a "sex symbol", and she was one of the most popular ones of the 1950s and early 1960s. She was also an emblem of the era's sexual revolution. However, despite her onscreen persona, Monroe was a tough, smart woman who had to be both to beat the Hollywood studio system in the 1950s.

The recreation was camp

Lindsay Lohan recreated an iconic Marilyn Monroe moment wearing an ankle monitor. In 2011, Lohan was awarded the ankle bracelet after several incidences of being on probation and missing court dates or failing to comply with court orders. Lohan's recreation of the famous image of Monroe posing over a vent, wearing a white dress, was taken during this time. Lohan's photo, in which she shows off her ankle monitor, has been described as saying, "No [beep] given!".

Lohan's run-ins with the law began in 2007 when she was arrested for a DUI, although she had been court-ordered to rehab several times before that. In 2023, Lohan was fined for promoting crypto without disclosing that she was being paid for it. Lohan's recreation of the iconic image has been described as "more iconic than Marilyn Monroe".

The original image of Monroe is one of old-school glamour and elegance, with the actress posing gracefully over the vent in a white dress. Lohan's recreation adds a layer of edginess and humour to the original, transforming it into a statement of her own personal style and attitude. The ankle monitor becomes an unexpected and unconventional accessory, a symbol of her rebelliousness and non-conformity.

The image is a perfect example of "camping", a term coined by Susan Sontag in her 1964 essay "Notes on 'Camp'". Sontag describes "camping" as the process of infusing something with "a more-is-more sensibility", taking something and making it "more outrageous, more outlandish, more outré". Lohan's addition of the ankle monitor to the iconic image certainly fits this description, transforming it into a lighthearted and humorous statement that celebrates her own unique personality and sense of style.

The image also draws on elements of pop art, with Lohan recreating a well-known cultural image and adding her own playful twist. The use of bright colours, bold graphics, and a sense of humour are all characteristic of the pop art movement. The image thus becomes a form of "high-low art", blending elements of high culture (the iconic image of Monroe) with low culture (the ankle monitor) to create something new and unexpected.

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