Chasing Lolita : How Popular Culture Corrupted Nabokov's Little Girl All Over Again

In the summer of 1958, a twelve-year-old girl took the world by storm—Lolita was published in the United States. This child, so fresh and alive, yet so pitiable in her abuse at the hands of the novel's narrator, engendered outrage and sympathy alike, and has continued to do so ever since. Yet Lolita's image in the broader public consciousness has changed. No longer a little girl, Lolita has come to signify a precocious temptress, a cunning underage vixen who'll stop at nothing to get her man. How could this have happened? Chasing Lolita, published on the fiftieth anniversary of Lolita's American publication, is an essential contemporary companion to Vladimir Nabokov's great novel. It establishes who Lolita really was back in 1958, explores her predecessors of all stripes, and examines the multitude of movies, theatrical shows, literary spin-offs, artifacts, fashion, art, photography, and tabloid excesses that have distorted her identity and stolen her name. It considers not just the "Lolita effect" but shifting attitudes toward the always volatile mix of sex, children, and popular entertainment—from Victorian times to the present. And it also looks at some real-life cases of young girls who became the innocent victims of someone else’s obsession—unhappy sisters to one of the most affecting heroines in American fiction, and one of the most widely misunderstood. Chasing Lolita, Published On The Fiftieth Anniversary Of Lolita's American Publication, Is An Essential Contemporary Companion To Vladimir Nabokov's Great Novel. It Establishes Who Lolita Really Was Back In 1958, Explores Her Predecessors Of All Stripes, And Examines The Multitude Of Movies, Theatrical Shows, Literary Spinoffs, Artifacts, Fashion, Art, Photography, And Tabloid Excesses That Have Distorted Her Identity And Stolen Her Name. It Considers Not Just The Lolita Effect But Shifting Attitudes Toward The Always Volatile Mix Of Sex, Children, And Popular Entertainment - From Victorian Times To The Present. And It Also Looks At Some Real-life Cases Of Young Girls Who Became The Innocent Victims Of Someone Else's Obsession - Unhappy Sisters To One Of The Most Affecting Heroines In American Fiction, And One Of The Most Widely Misunderstood.--jacket. The Real Life Of Dolores Haze: Just The Facts -- Casebooks And Fantasies: Dolores Haze's Oft-told Tale -- A Very 1950s Scandal: Hurricane Lolita -- Lolita In Movieland 1: Little Victims And Little Princesses -- Lolita In Movieland 2: Pedophilia Is A Hard Sell -- On The Road: Lolita's Moving Prison -- Take One: How Did They Ever Make A Film Of Lolita? -- Dramatic Arts: Lolita Center Stage -- The Spirit Of Free Enterprise: Every Foul Poster -- Tabloids And Factoids: The Press And Lolita -- Take Two: Once More, With Feeling -- Blood Sisters: Some Responses To Lolita. Graham Vickers. The Real Life Of Dolores Haze: Just The Facts -- Casebooks And Fantasies: Dolores Haze's Oft-told Tale -- A Very 1950s Scandal: Hurricane Lolita -- Lolita In Movieland 1: Little Victims And Little Princesses -- Lolita In Movieland 2: Pedophilia Is A Hard Sell -- On The Road: Lolita's Moving Prison -- Take One: How Did They Ever Make A Film Of Lolita? -- Dramatic Arts: Lolita Center Stage -- The Spirit Of Free Enterprise: Every Foul Poster -- Tabloids And Factoids: The Press And Lolita -- Take Two: Once More, With Feeling -- Blood Sisters: Some Responses To Lolita. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 233-234) And Index. In the summer of 1958, a twelve-year-old girl took the world by storm Lolita was published in the United States. This child, so fresh and alive, yet so pitiable in her abuse at the hands of the novel's narrator, engendered outrage and sympathy alike, and has continued to do so ever since. Yet Lolita's image in the broader public consciousness has changed. No longer a little girl, Lolita has come to signify a precocious temptress, a cunning underage vixen who'll stop at nothing to get her man. How could this have happened? Chasing Lolita , published on the fiftieth anniversary of Lolita's American publication, is an essential contemporary companion to Vladimir Nabokov's great novel. It establishes who Lolita really was back in 1958, explores her predecessors of all stripes, and examines the multitude of movies, theatrical shows, literary spin-offs, artifacts, fashion, art, photography, and tabloid excesses that have distorted her identity and stolen her name. It considers not just the "Lolita effect" but shifting attitudes toward the always volatile mix of sex, children, and popular entertainmentfrom Victorian times to the present. And it also looks at some real-life cases of young girls who became the innocent victims of someone elses obsessionunhappy sisters to one of the most affecting heroines in American fiction, and one of the most widely misunderstood.

In the summer of 1958, a 12-year-old girl took the world by storm—Lolita was published in the United States—and since then, her name has been taken in vain to serve a wide range of dubious ventures, both artistic and commercial. Offering a full consideration of not only “the Lolita effect” but shifting attitudes toward the mix of sex, children, and popular entertainment from Victorian times to the present, this study explores the movies, theatrical shows, literary spin-offs, artifacts, fashion, art, photography, and tabloid excesses that have distorted Lolita’s identity with an eye toward some real-life cases of young girls who became the innocent victims of someone else’s obsession—unhappy sisters to one of the most affecting heroines in fiction. New insight is provided into the brief life of Lolita and into her longer afterlives as well.

In the summer of 1958, a 12-year-old girl took the world by storm, Lolita was published in the United States, and since then, her name has been taken in vain to serve a wide range of dubious ventures, both artistic and commercial. Offering a full consideration of not only the Lolita effect but shifting attitudes toward the mix of sex, children, and popular entertainment from Victorian times to the present. This study explores the movies, theatrical shows, literary spin-offs, artifacts, fashion, art, photography, and tabloid excesses that have distorted Lolita's identity with an eye toward some real-life cases of young girls who became the innocent victims of someone else's obsession, unhappy sisters to one of the most affecting heroines in fiction. New insight is provided into the brief life of Lolita and into her longer afterlives as well. Front Matter 3 Copyright 4 Contents 9 Introduction 11 Chapter 1: The Real Life of Dolores Haze: Just the Facts 15 Chapter 2: Casebooks and Fantasies: Dolores Haze’s Oft-Told Tale 33 Chapter 3: A Very 1950s Scandal: Hurricane Lolita 51 Chapter 4: Lolita in Movieland 1: Little Victims and Little Princesses 65 Chapter 5: Lolita in Movieland 2: “Pedophilia Is a Hard Sell” 81 Chapter 6: On the Road: Lolita’s Moving Prison 103 Chapter 7: Take One: How Did They Ever Make a Film of Lolita? 119 Chapter 8: Dramatic Arts: Lolita Center Stage 141 Chapter 9: The Spirit of Free Enterprise: Every Foul Poster 155 Chapter 10: Tabloids and Factoids: The Press and Lolita 175 Chapter 11: Take Two: Once More, with Feeling 195 Chapter 12: Blood Sisters: Some Responses to Lolita 215 Conclusion 235 Bibliography 243 Index 245