Sarah McCrorie Fairbank

Hanoi Jane

I chose to explore the very controversial and loaded photograph of Jane Fonda in Vietnam sitting on a Vietnamese cannon during 1972. I find the generational divide of opinions on this photograph fascinating.

“I created a large portrait-style oil painting on canvas of Jane Fonda. I chose to really focus on details from the photograph and fade away elements of which the photograph blurs out. For example; Fonda’s arms, hands, clothing, and face have little detail in them due to her being too pale for the exposure. However, the two Vietnamese soldiers behind her are shown in much greater detail. Thus these elements were painted exactly as seen in the photograph. This piece has different elements fading in and out and if the viewer is unaware of the photograph in question; it simply looks like some type of war image. Instead of it being the usual photographs “utter truth”, the romanticized painting creates a new plane for this image to exist and be questioned upon. The title “Hanoi Jane” is truly what adds the most context similarly to themes found in Berger’s Appearances. Without the title how would an unaware viewer even have an inkling into what they were seeing? Is it America’s former sweetheart’s downfall, or how mistakes can cost people their careers in today’s cancel culture; has this culture has existed for longer than we imagined? Some may feel repulsed and disgruntled looking at the image, while others just do not understand the context in the slightest, or absolutely support Fonda. It could be argued that this portrait of a famous actress is actually a commentary on how history is eventually doomed to repeat itself. ”