Bidding is underway in a major auction of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia, attracting collectors and institutions from around the world. The event, held in London, coincides with a series of events celebrating Hollywood's cultural legacy in the United Kingdom. The collection includes iconic dresses, personal letters, and film props, with estimates reaching into the millions.
Dr. Helena Vance: While this auction may seem a diversion from pressing climate realities, it underscores a human tendency to fixate on cultural artefacts as our planet undergoes rapid biophysical change. The energy consumption of such global events, from shipping items to powering bidding servers, is a microcosm of the larger carbon equation we must address.
Among the lots is the famous "subway dress" from *The Seven Year Itch*, expected to fetch over £2 million. Other items include handwritten notes and contracts from Monroe's heyday. The sale has drawn criticism as well, with some arguing that the funds could be better directed toward climate adaptation or renewable energy projects.
Yet, the auction also serves as a reminder of the transient nature of human fame against a backdrop of ecological crisis. Monroe's life and death mirror the arc of a civilisation burning through fossil fuels: brilliant, brief, and ultimately unsustainable. As bidders compete for a piece of Hollywood history, we must ask what history they will leave behind for a warming world.
The UK's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has endorsed the celebration, framing it as a boost for cultural tourism. But with the Met Office warning of record-breaking heatwaves this summer, one wonders if our nostalgia for a golden age blinds us to the necessity of a green transition.
Ultimately, the Monroe auction is a spectacle of consumption. Every bid placed, every item shipped, carries a carbon cost. The question is not whether we can afford these relics, but whether we can afford the energy required to preserve them. As the planet warms, our cultural heritage will face new threats, from rising seas to failing storage infrastructure. Perhaps the most valuable artefact we can collect now is a stable climate.
