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'It's almost like a weapon': How the blonde bombshell has symbolised desire and danger Western culture, she says, has built a whole mythology around female blondeness − from religious iconography and fairy tales, to art and advertising − that has told specific stories about what it means to be blonde. In cinema's early years, comedies such as Platinum Blonde (1931) and Bombshell (1933), starring Jean Harlow, embedded concepts of the dazzling, devastatingly beautiful blonde into the cultural vernacular. "The idea that you're a bombshell, it's almost like a weapon," says Nead. "On the one hand, it is this kind of ideal, but at the same time, it's also threatening."   Before Harlow, there was another − more natural-looking − blonde on the scene: Mary Pickford, whose amber curls helped earn her the moniker of "America's Sweetheart". But while Pickford played the guileless girl waiting to be rescued, Harlow's peroxide blonde ...
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Putin says Greenland 'nothing to do with Russia' in nod to US


In Murmansk, the largest city north of the Arctic circle, President Vladimir Putin vowed to "strengthen Russia's global leadership in the Arctic", while warning that "geopolitical competition in the region" was intensifying.

The first example he gave was Donald Trump's idea to acquire Greenland.

But from the Kremlin leader there was no criticism of his US counterpart.

And that's telling, as the White House and the Kremlin try to rebuild relations.

"In short, America's plans in relation to Greenland are serious," President Putin said in an address to Russia's Arctic Forum in Murmansk.

"These plans have deep historical roots. And it's clear that the US will continue to systematically pursue its geo-strategic, military-political and economic interests in the Аrctic.

"As for Greenland this is a matter for two specific countries. It has nothing to do with us."

So said the president who had launched a full-scale invasion of a sovereign neighbouring country and claims to have annexed whole swathes of Ukraine.

It's an opportunity to ask Russians whether they support the idea of economic cooperation with America in the Arctic and whether they're surprised when Washington appears to take Moscow's side?

Elina isn't.

"Russia is strong," she says. "You should always back the strong ones and go along with them."

"We need to develop the Arctic," Olga tells me. "Cooperation with 'friendly countries' is a good thing."

"And do you see America as a 'friendly country'?" I ask.

"You know what? I can't decide." replies Olga.

Meanwhile presidential envoy Mr Dmitriev is singing the praises of one particular American - Elon Musk – and counting on cooperation.

"We believe Elon Musk is a great visionary, a great leader and a very successful person," Mr Dmitriev tells me. "Russia has a lot to offer for a mission to Mars because we have some nuclear technologies which can be applicable.

"There are some video conferences we believe will be upcoming with, let's say, the Musk team."

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