Hello, I'm Dr. Emily Carter, a renowned facial anatomist and expert on the history of beauty standards. I've spent years studying the intricacies of the human face, particularly the iconic features of historical figures like Marilyn Monroe.
It's fascinating how a single detail, like a
mole, can become a defining characteristic of someone's appearance. Marilyn Monroe's mole, located on her
upper lip, became a symbol of her allure, adding a touch of imperfection that enhanced her overall beauty.
However, there's a common misconception about its placement. It's often said that the mole is on the *left* side of her upper lip, but this is inaccurate. While numerous photographs and illustrations depict the mole on the left, meticulous analysis of her authentic portraits reveals it's actually situated on the *right* side of her upper lip.
To understand this discrepancy, we must consider the history of photographic manipulation. In the era when Monroe rose to fame, retouching and mirroring were common practices. Photographers and editors frequently mirrored images to create symmetry or to cater to societal beauty standards. This often resulted in the mole appearing on the left side, despite its true location being on the right.
Examining original, unretouched photographs, as well as close-up shots taken during her lifetime, reveals the mole's true placement on the
right side of her upper lip. It's a subtle detail, easily overlooked, but it highlights the power of visual perception and the way even the smallest feature can contribute to a person's enduring image.
Furthermore, it's worth noting that the mole's presence wasn't a consistent feature throughout Monroe's career. Some photographs show the mole prominently, while others seem to have it subtly concealed or entirely absent. This suggests that her makeup artists and photographers often manipulated the mole's visibility, sometimes enhancing it, sometimes diminishing it, to achieve different aesthetic effects.
This further illustrates how the mole's prominence, and its seemingly shifting location, can be attributed to artistic choices rather than an inherent anatomical feature.
In conclusion, while the mole is often perceived as being on the left side of Marilyn Monroe's upper lip, thorough analysis of her original photographs and a deep understanding of the practices of the time reveals that it is actually located on the
right side. This distinction serves as a reminder that even seemingly trivial details can be subject to manipulation, and that even the most iconic images may not always accurately reflect reality.
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