I like this photo, too -- but for different reasons, I suppose. Far from reading into it political meanings, and apart from the obvious sexual content, I'm fascinated by Marylin's face here -- so open and vulnerable.
It's not Marilyn, it's Jane Mansfield, and , yea, she died young too.
Also, there's political content there too: That "open face" is America's face. That photo is comparing our openness - and abundance - to the "sophisticated" (and formally admirable) look of Sophia Loren - and finding it wanting.
"Also, there's political content there too: That "open face" is America's face. That photo is comparing our openness - and abundance - to the "sophisticated" (and formally admirable) look of Sophia Loren - and finding it wanting."
Yes, CMC, I get it, I do (this time LOL, despite myself). But I'm usually drawn to personal more than political, y'know. The latter only reluctantly, even though it may not appear so sometimes. It is a great photo.
Perhaps "sophisticated," cynical European Sophia Loren is simply jealous that she didn't have what it took to get as deeply involved in the occult and Satanism as "open" and innocent American Jayne Mansfield.
---------------
Besides the weekly [Church of Satan] ceremonies, Anton [Lavey] conducted Witches’ Workshops and various seminars which attracted notable personalities from up and down the California coast. Jayne Mansfield, the sexy-sweet blonde bombshell famous for her stunning measurements and orgasmic squeal, insisted on meeting the Black Pope. LaVey and Mansfield hit it off immediately, each fulfilling a diabolical need in the other. Jayne became passionately obsessed with Anton [LaVey], calling him several times a day from wherever she traveled, eventually applying for a driver’s license just to be able to drive to San Francisco unescorted by her persistently ubiquitous lawyer/boyfriend, Sam Brody. Jayne’s commitment to LaVey, and her dedication to the Satanic philosophy, continued until her death in June of 1967. The auto crash she died in also killed Sam Brody, who LaVey had formally cursed in response to Brody’s jealous threats and attempts to discredit LaVey.
The night of Mansfield’s death, LaVey had been clipping a Church of Satan news item from the German magazine, Bild-Zeitung. When he turned the item over to paste it in the press book, LaVey was shocked to see he had inadvertently cut a photo of Jayne on the opposite side of the page, right across the neck. Fifteen minutes later, a reporter from the New Orleans Associated Press bureau called Anton to get his reaction to the tragic accident. Jayne had been practically decapitated when she was thrown through the windshield of the car.
Interesting info, Cult Buster. What I also thought, looking at J's face here, is that this is someone who appears to be an easy mark for predators. That openness and vulnerability go hand in hand with dangerous naivete, and the abundance verges on exhibitionism and lack of restraint and self-criticism. All parts of the dark side of innocence, whether in individual human beings or in whole nations, I suppose.
Interesting info, Cult Buster. What I also thought, looking at J's face here, is that this is someone who appears to be an easy mark for predators. That openness and vulnerability go hand in hand with dangerous naivete, and the abundance verges on exhibitionism and lack of restraint and self-criticism. All parts of the dark side of innocence, whether in individual human beings or in whole nations, I suppose.
When I think about our capacity to believe in this "we are all one" nonsense, it always reminds me of how naive we are. How the evil lurking out there isn't taken seriously, like when Obama says he'll just "talk" to our enemies, and, somehow, they'll discover their better angels and act like the nice guys they never were.
No, no, no - it'll never happen: they're much too "sophisticated" for that.
"Bush Derangement Syndrome"is meant to be some sort of cultish "thought stopping" phrase, isn't it?
However, I was simply following the logic of your argument.
The "bad guys" in your post (like Obama) are dangerously naive, so does that make the "good guys" sophisticated? Or cynical? Or are the "good guys" also "dangerously naive," if the "bad guys" are bad because they are jealous and "sophisticated"?
Who knows, really - its hard to tell what point you are trying to make here.
Hopefully we can all agree that Satanic cults are best avoided, and leave it at that. :-)
Naw, man/woman: there is a range I acknowledge as "normal" in American life - the "vital center" of American thought, that loves our country, understands and reveres our ideals, etc. - and the Bushies (the good guys) are fighting for that to prevail again. Not the people who, in a knee-jerk fashion, think there's something fundamentally wrong with us because we're rich, or powerful, or think fighting, literally, for right is wrong.
Since the '60's, this country has been on a steady swing rightward (with two bumps on the road, courtesy of Carter and Clinton) and that rightward swing has been back to what we were before we were so rudely interrupted:
A great country.
Are we Bush Republicans dangerously naive? Naw. "Cautiously optimistic" is a better way to put what we are, now, being older and wiser. We're like cowboys, looking forward to a nice day at a picnic with the kids and everything, but always (always) wearing our six-shooters. Just in case.
In case of what? In case some New Age hippies, or Osama, or any other fundamentalists show up.
I love this photo,...it says it all.
I like this photo, too -- but for different reasons, I suppose. Far from reading into it political meanings, and apart from the obvious sexual content, I'm fascinated by Marylin's face here -- so open and vulnerable.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder she did not last...
Did I say Marylin... I'd LOL, but obviously my mind is elsewhere today.
ReplyDeleteThough neither of the two, J or M, lasted as long as the cunning (or appearing so here, at least) and sophisticated Sophia. Hm.
Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteIt's not Marilyn, it's Jane Mansfield, and , yea, she died young too.
Also, there's political content there too: That "open face" is America's face. That photo is comparing our openness - and abundance - to the "sophisticated" (and formally admirable) look of Sophia Loren - and finding it wanting.
Like I said: that photo says it all.
No, but what they (Jand M) had to deal with was a whole other can of worms,...
ReplyDelete"Also, there's political content there too: That "open face" is America's face. That photo is comparing our openness - and abundance - to the "sophisticated" (and formally admirable) look of Sophia Loren - and finding it wanting."
ReplyDeleteYes, CMC, I get it, I do (this time LOL, despite myself). But I'm usually drawn to personal more than political, y'know. The latter only reluctantly, even though it may not appear so sometimes. It is a great photo.
Perhaps "sophisticated," cynical European Sophia Loren is simply jealous that she didn't have what it took to get as deeply involved in the occult and Satanism as "open" and innocent American Jayne Mansfield.
ReplyDelete---------------
Besides the weekly [Church of Satan] ceremonies, Anton [Lavey] conducted Witches’ Workshops and various seminars which attracted notable personalities from up and down the California coast. Jayne Mansfield, the sexy-sweet blonde bombshell famous for her stunning measurements and orgasmic squeal, insisted on meeting the Black Pope. LaVey and Mansfield hit it off immediately, each fulfilling a diabolical need in the other. Jayne became passionately obsessed with Anton [LaVey], calling him several times a day from wherever she traveled, eventually applying for a driver’s license just to be able to drive to San Francisco unescorted by her persistently ubiquitous lawyer/boyfriend, Sam Brody. Jayne’s commitment to LaVey, and her dedication to the Satanic philosophy, continued until her death in June of 1967. The auto crash she died in also killed Sam Brody, who LaVey had formally cursed in response to Brody’s jealous threats and attempts to discredit LaVey.
The night of Mansfield’s death, LaVey had been clipping a Church of Satan news item from the German magazine, Bild-Zeitung. When he turned the item over to paste it in the press book, LaVey was shocked to see he had inadvertently cut a photo of Jayne on the opposite side of the page, right across the neck. Fifteen minutes later, a reporter from the New Orleans Associated Press bureau called Anton to get his reaction to the tragic accident. Jayne had been practically decapitated when she was thrown through the windshield of the car.
Like I said, "a whole other can of worms,..."
ReplyDeleteInteresting info, Cult Buster. What I also thought, looking at J's face here, is that this is someone who appears to be an easy mark for predators. That openness and vulnerability go hand in hand with dangerous naivete, and the abundance verges on exhibitionism and lack of restraint and self-criticism. All parts of the dark side of innocence, whether in individual human beings or in whole nations, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteBut it is a great photo.
Interesting info, Cult Buster. What I also thought, looking at J's face here, is that this is someone who appears to be an easy mark for predators. That openness and vulnerability go hand in hand with dangerous naivete, and the abundance verges on exhibitionism and lack of restraint and self-criticism. All parts of the dark side of innocence, whether in individual human beings or in whole nations, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteBut it is a great photo.
That's it - that's my country: dangerously naive.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think about our capacity to believe in this "we are all one" nonsense, it always reminds me of how naive we are. How the evil lurking out there isn't taken seriously, like when Obama says he'll just "talk" to our enemies, and, somehow, they'll discover their better angels and act like the nice guys they never were.
No, no, no - it'll never happen: they're much too "sophisticated" for that.
If Obama is typically "American" in his dangerous naivetee, then does that make George W Bush typically "European" in his sophisticated cynicism?
ReplyDeleteHere we go,...another person with Bush Derangement Syndrome. You know, "derangement" isn't healthy:
ReplyDeleteYou should have that looked at.
"Bush Derangement Syndrome"is meant to be some sort of cultish "thought stopping" phrase, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteHowever, I was simply following the logic of your argument.
The "bad guys" in your post (like Obama) are dangerously naive, so does that make the "good guys" sophisticated? Or cynical? Or are the "good guys" also "dangerously naive," if the "bad guys" are bad because they are jealous and "sophisticated"?
Who knows, really - its hard to tell what point you are trying to make here.
Hopefully we can all agree that Satanic cults are best avoided, and leave it at that. :-)
Cultbuster,
ReplyDeleteNaw, man/woman: there is a range I acknowledge as "normal" in American life - the "vital center" of American thought, that loves our country, understands and reveres our ideals, etc. - and the Bushies (the good guys) are fighting for that to prevail again. Not the people who, in a knee-jerk fashion, think there's something fundamentally wrong with us because we're rich, or powerful, or think fighting, literally, for right is wrong.
Since the '60's, this country has been on a steady swing rightward (with two bumps on the road, courtesy of Carter and Clinton) and that rightward swing has been back to what we were before we were so rudely interrupted:
A great country.
Are we Bush Republicans dangerously naive? Naw. "Cautiously optimistic" is a better way to put what we are, now, being older and wiser. We're like cowboys, looking forward to a nice day at a picnic with the kids and everything, but always (always) wearing our six-shooters. Just in case.
In case of what? In case some New Age hippies, or Osama, or any other fundamentalists show up.
Those folks can really ruin a picnic.