D
The Woman Is Kitsch
This polaroid features Edith Bouvier Beale, commonly known as Little Edie, who was an American socialite, fashion model, and cabaret performer. While to many, this image may seem like just a picture of an older woman, for her devoted cult following, it represents the memorabilia of a queer icon. Little Edie was the first cousin of former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and Princess Lee Radziwill. She gained fame for her role in the 1975 documentary film “Grey Gardens”, directed by Albert and David Maysles. She is celebrated for her quirky and eccentric personality, unique style, and unwavering loyalty to her mother, despite their complicated relationship.
The perception of kitsch is based on the reflection of the past, and leads me to wonder if we perceive women similarly: we adore them in their prime, forget about them as they age, then revisit them after they are gone, idolizing the legacies they left behind. My curiosity lies in how typography ties into this metaphor of the woman as kitsch.
Polaroid of "Little" Edie Beale, Andy Warhol (1976)