From Pin-Up To Comic Strip: The Syndicated Jael in Early 20th Century America

The article analyzes two representations of the biblical Jael by the early 20th century newspaper illustrator Dan Smith. Smith's renderings of Jael show how the shifting tides in American popular culture and the advent of yellow journalism by Joseph Pulitzer's New York World made risqué il...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Conway, Colleen M. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft 2021
In: Die Bibel in der Kunst
Year: 2021, Volume: 5, Pages: 1-20
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Bible. Judge 4,17-22 / Jael, Biblical person / Actualization / History 1900-2100 / Comic strip / Woman (Motif)
IxTheo Classification:BH Judaism
HB Old Testament
Further subjects:B Dan Smith (1865-1934)
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary:The article analyzes two representations of the biblical Jael by the early 20th century newspaper illustrator Dan Smith. Smith's renderings of Jael show how the shifting tides in American popular culture and the advent of yellow journalism by Joseph Pulitzer's New York World made risqué illus­ trations like Smith's Jael possible. At the same time, Smith's illustrated series of famous women shares elements with much earlier illustrations of biblical women by Dutch artists. In both the 15th century and 20th centuries new technologies made it possible for artists who drew biblical women to profit through greater distribution. ln Smith's case, this meant his illustrations were seen by thousands, if not millions of viewers. My study of Smith's work raises questions about the cultural­ historical construction of "Bible" for a mass audience, the relationship between biblical text and image in mass media and the eroticizing of Jael and other biblical women to generate profits.
Contains:Enthalten in: Die Bibel in der Kunst