Dolly does saigon: diplomacy and the sexual politics of show business in the vietnam war

This project investigates the representation of American actresses Mary Martin and Jane Fonda during the Vietnam War and why they are inversely committed to American cultural memory. Mary Martin's involvement as a Broadway performer in an active war zone reinforced her legacy as America's sweetheart. Jane Fonda's role as a feminist, antiwar protester constructed her reputation as an un-American traitor. Both women promoted different agendas of American interventionism in Asia based on their interaction styles with Asian nationals and relationships with the US government. Martin and Fonda's dueling legacies reveal how the politicization of female performers during the Vietnam War weaponized both women to advance American imperialism in Asia.