Camelot: The Enduring Kennedy Image

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy and his idyllic Camelot, full of hope, charisma, and glamour, were impacted by tragedy. One week later, Jackie Kennedy told Life magazine that her husband often listened to the soundtrack of the Broadway musical, Camelot. The symbolism of Camelot perfectly suited the era in which the Kennedys captured national attention and a relentless media obsession: the lost perfection of a presidency and family that influenced thousands of people.

The most recent progression in the Kennedy world is the release of the Hulu series, Love Story: John F. Kennedy and Carolyn Bessette. Covering the romantic tale between the two, the series has received overwhelming positive ratings, with critics saying, "For those of us who remember that time in New York City, Love Story may just hook you on nostalgia" (Jeanine T. Abraham) and "With only a few dips into crass sensationalism, this love story starring Paul Anthony Kelly and a standout star-is-born Sarah Pidgeon lets us share in John and Carolyn’s one brief shining moment and ache for what might have been," (Peter Travers).

With a rating of 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, the series has already sparked an online revolution, where pencil skirts, wool turtlenecks, and Calvin Klein are beginning to reign supreme. With all this attention, similar to the type of obsession that America had with the Kennedys back in the 60s, one question landed in my mind: if JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette were alive today, how would they respond to the popularity?

A comment beneath a video online struck me, saying, "CBK most likely wouldn't even acknowledge the existence of the series, given her historical annoyance with the media. Who says she would even care about Sarah Pidgeon's portrayal?" It made me wonder if this was true: whether JFK Jr. and CBK would give a second thought to the series sharing their love story. The Kennedys were swallowed by invasive media presence at the height of their popularity: is the online algorithm that has been newly refreshed just another outlet for a repeat experience of going viral? Perhaps they would reclaim control over their image by directly refusing to engage. We are only left to wonder in the wake of their deaths in 1999.

As much as I am in love with the fashion, lighting, and dialogue in the Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette series, there is a part of me that wants to better understand the tension between nostalgia and exploitation. The Kennedy family were exploited for years, with their lives (usually misinterpreted or fabricated) splashed across headlines every week. When consuming content online in connection to the new series, you have to ask yourself if we are honouring JFK Jr. and CBK, or if we are continuing to exploit them. The public first became infatuated with CBK based on her direct resistance to becoming an icon. Her almost accidental trip to being a muse made the audience affectionate and impressed. Her silence, both when she was alive and now deceased, is repeatedly aestheticised.

So, how can the current public revamp the idea of Camelot and the entire Kennedy image in a way that is appropriate, respectful, and relevant? Truthfully, it may not be able to be done. Camelot was always a myth, although Jackie Kennedy tried to immortalise her husband's presidency period by romanticising their legacy. Reverence and consumption cannot co-exist: there has to be a leading theme. The Kennedy image projected by thousands, including Jackie Kennedy herself, was one of order, excellence, and precision. It was all intentional. It was a contrast to the anxieties created by the Cold War and previous challenges that Americans had faced, and the Kennedys were a fresh start, bringing youth and aspirations. At a time when uncertainty was growing, the Kennedys authored a fantasy for Americans.

JFK Jr. and CBK were renowned for having a tumultuous relationship, full of public displays of anger and disruption toward each other. People bypassed the reality of their relationship, which was widely assumed to be dysfunctional, and instead focused on the visual aesthetic of the couple. While Jackie Kennedy sported tailored colour, CBK embraced minimalism with clean lines, neutrals, and simplicity. Her minimalism was interpreted as mystique, and invited the public to project assumptions about her life and relationships until the day she passed away.

Unlike today's media landscape, Camelot existed in a time of relative control. Images of the Kennedys and other families of the time were selected, staged, and distributed through a limited number of magazines and other publications. Jackie Kennedy worked to preserve a restrained, unified image of her family: one that could be controlled as much as possible. This curation maintained an illusion that withheld the reality from the rest of America, doing everything possible to hold onto privacy. The current revival of JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette operates in a completely different way, where images and aesthetics are detached and reshaped to fit the current trends without any regulation or instruction. The media, especially online platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, have free rein to interpret anything however they wish.

Ultimately, Hulu's Love Story has portrayed the Kennedys in the way that we, the public, know them. It dives into their relationship and lifestyle, but in reality, we will never understand the true nature of their lives. It is a bittersweet reminder that we continue to admire their image instead of acknowledging the complexity of their legacy. Perhaps, CBK's fashion choices were created less with the intention of allure, but with the hope of preserving identity in a culture that demanded access to every part of her.

During a time when assumptions and narratives about public figures circulate faster than ever, it is important to remain aware that they are human beings and experience the same discomfort and emotional hardships that we do. We don't have to reject Camelot: we only have to contextualise it.