Taylor Jones
Eartha Kitt is an icon based on her contribution to multiple artistic mediums, having been nominated for three Tonys, two Grammys, and two Emmys over her life span. Eartha Kitt did not become an icon based on her talents alone. What is truly iconic tome is how she presented herself and showed her resilience as an African American woman during the 1950's. It was 1953 when her first record album was released titled “That Bad Eartha”. The first song on that album “I Want to be Evil”, and the music video of Eartha singing the song, depicts her personality perfectly. Kitt also played Cat Womaninthe third season of the1960sBatman television show. Kitt had a love for cats not only for her role as Cat Woman but she had a cat named Jinx who would travel with her and would stay backstage during her performances. Eartha Kitt is an icon for never compromising herself, she is a symbol of strength. Kitt worked all her life in the arts and played the voice of Yzma in The Emperor's New Groove up until her death in2008. Eartha Kitt's accomplishments are so many and varied, they simply can't be contained in a single paragraph
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Art History Student Responses to Taylor Jones:
By Elizabeth Bingham:
My initial reaction to this icon is the character Madame Zeroni from the movie Holes. After more thinking, I realized she also voiced the character of Yzma from the Emperor's New Groove, also another iconic movie for my age group. I think these are very iconic characters for those born in the 90’s, most if not all of us could probably recognize her from these characters. Eartha Kitt had a long life before she passed away in 2008. She was not only invited to the white house once, but twice. She played many roles not only here in the US, but in other countries too, where she also learned over a dozen languages.
“In Memoriam: Eartha Kitt.” 2009. The State of Black America, 233–34
By Hannah Redhead:
My icon is Eartha Kitt, an African American singer and performer most known (to me) for music in the 1950s and 80s and her roles as Catwoman in the Batman tv show and as Yzma in Emperor’s New Groove. I think her life as such only makes her iconic, as she represents not only the glamorous life of a star and diva, but also the aspirations of many young people of color who wish to follow her. The author of the paper focuses on Kitt’s role as Catwoman in the 1960s Batman television series in pages 36-40 of her dissertation, and focuses on the ways in which she embodies, defines, and subverts the archetypes of the character.
Barnett, Katrina. "Nine Lives: A History of Cat Women, Subversive Femininity, and Transgressive Archetypes in Film." Order No. 28674435, University of North Texas, 2020, 36-40. http://proxy.lib.csus.edu/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.proxy.lib.csus.edu/dissertations-theses/nine-lives-history-cat-women-subversive/docview/2558108744/se-2?accountid=10358.