Steeling the Butterfly: The Imperial Constructions of Imelda Marcos 1966-1990.
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2018-08
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Abstract
Taking center stage in this dissertation project is the controversial figure of former
Philippine First Lady, Imelda Romualdez Marcos, her multiple iterations as a gendered political
subject, and her relationship with empire building, state power, and nationalism. Remembered
for her flair for drama and excess—epitomized by the shocking discovery of her lavish shoe
collection in 1986—and her complicity in the political plunder and crimes of her husband’s
regime, Imelda Marcos is trivialized, demonized, caricatured, and at times, revered.
This dissertation examines the relationships between cultural representation, state
violence, gender, and empire. Grappling with fantasies affixed to the figure of Imelda Marcos, it
argues that the emergence of specific “Imelda” iconographies at particular historical moments
are significant to the reimagining of United States-Philippine geopolitical relations. This
interdisciplinary project utilizes a diverse range of materials including print media, television,
and government archives as well as works of art, performances, and film. As the specter of
Imelda continues to fascinate and bewilder in the current context of state-sanctioned violence in
the Philippines, it is imperative to understand representation and the popular cultural imaginary’s
role in bringing about a new geopolitical and economic order in the post-World War II era.
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Imelda Marcos, First Lady, Martial Law, U.S.-Philippine relations, Gender studies, Empire studies
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