The Power Of A Look

Created by Raegen Smeigh on Wed, 04/09/2025 - 21:18

Part of Group:

Rotunno and Page Sexuality and Modern Visual Culture PSU Altoona Spring 2025

This timeline provides a sociohistorical context for Joe Shere's 1957 Jayne Mansfield and Sophia Loren

Shere, Joe. Photograph of Sophia Loren and Jayne Mansfield. 1957. https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D7d8IzMOfB4/XvZjy3LLo3I/AAAAAAAAYik/rBAsiuBZA... eQT4rfkfENZyGEjM_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sophia-Loren-Jayne-Mansfield%2B%25282%2529.jpg. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025

Timeline

The Height Of Joe Shere's Career

1951 to 1957

For my docent Image I was assigned an image captured by Joe Shere of two actors by the names of Sophia Loren and Jayne Mansfield. I found a statement on the web about the connection of the image to the artist. Sophia Loren was “the sex symbol of Hollywood” according to the photographer. When Loren’s plus one got up from his seat (the woman pictured in the black dress) Mansfield (the woman in the low-cut white dress) swooped in for the photo. This Image marked the height of Joe Shere's career after he fought in World War II. He further went on to photograph many other celebrities like Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. Many of these images showed that celebrities didn't always live in glamour and elegance.

Shere, Joe. Photograph of Marilyn Monroe. 1951. loeildelaphotographie.com/en/m…. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.


Associated Places

No places have been associated with this event

by Raegen Smeigh

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The Stunts of Jayne Mansfield

1955 to 1967

The second thing I would like to pull out of the image is Jayne Mansfield herself. Mansfield was known for her publicity stunts, especially showing any and every part of her body for the sake of publicity. This can be pulled out of the image by the way she presents herself, from the atmosphere of the image it can be seen that she is not supposed to be there. It can also be seen that she’s did what she did to get the spotlight (adding the fact that her breasts are about ready to spill out of her dress).

Photo of Jane Mansfield departing by helicopter to Rotterdam. 1957. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cat…:...(1957).jpg. Accessed 6 Apr 2025.


Associated Places

No places have been associated with this event

by Raegen Smeigh

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The reaction of Sophia Loren

1957

The last thing I want to pull from the image is why the event happened in the first place. Sophia Loren was a European actress known for her talent, success, beauty, and ties to Hollywood actors in the image taken this was her welcome to the world of Hollywood. With that being said that night was for her before Mansfield came in to steal her spotlight. This event drawled photographers not because of Loren but because of Mansfield. Loren saw Mansfield as tacky and tasteless.


Associated Places

No places have been associated with this event

by Raegen Smeigh

The Height Of Joe Shere's Career

The Stunts of Jayne Mansfield

The reaction of Sophia Loren

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TimelineJS

Chronological table

Displaying 1 - 3 of 3
Date Event Created by Associated Places
1951 to 1957

The Height Of Joe Shere's Career

Photo of Marilyn Monroe
Photo Of Marilyn Monroe

For my docent Image I was assigned an image captured by Joe Shere of two actors by the names of Sophia Loren and Jayne Mansfield. I found a statement on the web about the connection of the image to the artist. Sophia Loren was “the sex symbol of Hollywood” according to the photographer. When Loren’s plus one got up from his seat (the woman pictured in the black dress) Mansfield (the woman in the low-cut white dress) swooped in for the photo. This Image marked the height of Joe Shere's career after he fought in World War II. He further went on to photograph many other celebrities like Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. Many of these images showed that celebrities didn't always live in glamour and elegance.

Shere, Joe. Photograph of Marilyn Monroe. 1951. https://loeildelaphotographie.com/en/marilyn-monroe-captured-by-joe-shore/https://loeildelaphotographie.com/en/marilyn-monroe-captured-by-joe-shore/. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.

 Raegen Smeigh
1955 to 1967

The Stunts of Jayne Mansfield

Picture of Jayne Mansfield
Picture of Jayne Mansfield

The second thing I would like to pull out of the image is Jayne Mansfield herself. Mansfield was known for her publicity stunts, especially showing any and every part of her body for the sake of publicity. This can be pulled out of the image by the way she presents herself, from the atmosphere of the image it can be seen that she is not supposed to be there. It can also be seen that she’s did what she did to get the spotlight (adding the fact that her breasts are about ready to spill out of her dress).

Photo of Jane Mansfield departing by helicopter to Rotterdam. 1957. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Jayne_Mansfield#/media/File:...(1957).jpg. Accessed 6 Apr 2025.

 Raegen Smeigh
1957

The reaction of Sophia Loren

The last thing I want to pull from the image is why the event happened in the first place. Sophia Loren was a European actress known for her talent, success, beauty, and ties to Hollywood actors in the image taken this was her welcome to the world of Hollywood. With that being said that night was for her before Mansfield came in to steal her spotlight. This event drawled photographers not because of Loren but because of Mansfield. Loren saw Mansfield as tacky and tasteless.

 Raegen Smeigh