Steeling the Butterfly: The Imperial Constructions of Imelda Marcos 1966-1990

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.