LESSON: 320152 AGENDA SETTING AND REPRESENTATIONS

Today it's all about verisimilitude - the appearance of reality, or, in the case of film, the construction of a believable reality.  So, with this in mind we will be looking at the second series of sequences from Monster that chart the development of the love story between Aileen and Selby.

First, take a look at these images of Aileen and of Charlize Theron as Aileen and as herself. You will see the startling transformation of the actress into a believable resemblance of Aileen.  We know that Theron went to great lengths to create a representation of Aileen that audiences would find realistic, studying movements, gestures and expressions from videos of the trial and from Nick Broomfield's documentary on Aileen. A glamorous Aileen would have been ridiculous and undermined the narrative. - Aileen's trial had been world famous at the time, as were the almost iconic images of Aileen herself.

Then, take a look at those of Christina Ricci, then her appearance as Selby and then the real 'Selby'.

One of the key questions we might start to ask of these representations is 'WHY'? 

If  Charlize Theron - at the time described as one of the most desirable actresses in the world - was put through hours of make-up to create an accurate representation of Aileen then why was the character of 'Selby' represented in such an unrealistic manner - slim and elfin-like compared to 'Selby' who in reality was large and stocky?

Here, we enter the territory of intention, specifically the narrative and conceptual intentions of the director of the film, Patti Jenkins. Her concern is that we need to understand what drives Aileen to do the terrible things that she does. why, if is solely about her abuse at the hands of so many men did she not start her spree earlier? Why does [did] it coincide with her relationship with Selby? Clearly, if Selby is not the instigator of these murders [and Aileen claims she was not and Selby was never tried for her part in them] then it is linked into changes wrought on Aileen by finding a loving relationship. The desire/need to protect Selby is what drove her. to be understood by audiences it was felt that we had to 'see' Selby not as she was but as Aileen saw her - fragile and vulnerable. Hence the casting of the actress and the representation that is of the idea of Selby rather than an accurate representation of the actuality. Here art overrides truth.