In fall 1977, Sherman began making pictures that would eventually become her groundbreaking “Untitled Film Stills.” Over three years, the series grew to comprise a total of seventy black-and-white photographs. Taken as a whole, the “Untitled Film Stills”—resembling publicity pictures made on movie sets—read like an encyclopedic roster of stereotypical female roles inspired by 1950s and 1960s Hollywood, film noir, B movies, and European art-house films. But while the characters and scenarios may seem familiar, Sherman’s “Stills” are entirely fictitious; they represent clichés (career girl, bombshell, girl on the run, vamp, housewife, and so on) that are deeply embedded in the cultural imagination. While the pictures can be appreciated individually, much of their significance comes in the endless variation of identities from one photograph to the next. As a group they explore the complexity of representation in a world saturated with images, and refer to the cultural filter of images (moving and still) through which we see the world.
The United States gave Japan a warning and a deadline to surrender before the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, though not with an explicit mention of the atomic bomb itself.
Key Warning: The Potsdam Declaration (July 26, 1945)
The Potsdam Declaration was issued by the United States, the United Kingdom, and China.
It called for Japan’s unconditional surrender, warning of “prompt and utter destruction” if they refused.
It did not mention the atomic bomb specifically, as the weapon had not yet been used publicly and was still secret.
Japan was given an ultimatum, though no exact deadline date was specified.
Japan’s government rejected the ultimatum (or more accurately, chose to ignore it, which was interpreted as rejection by the Allies).
What happened next:
On August 6, 1945, the U.S. dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
On August 8, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan.
On August 9, the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.
Japan announced its intention to surrender on August 15, 1945, leading to the formal surrender on September 2, 1945.
Summary:
The U.S. did issue a surrender ultimatum (Potsdam Declaration) before the bombings, but did not reveal that an atomic bomb would be used. The warning was serious but vague about the nature of the coming destruction.
Founder of: Thelema Major Work:The Book of the Law (Liber AL vel Legis) Philosophy: Mystical, esoteric, and individualistic Motto:Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law
Key Points:
Deeply immersed in ceremonial magic, Eastern mysticism, Qabalah, and the Golden Dawn traditions.
Claimed to be the prophet of a new Aeon (the Aeon of Horus), with Thelema as its spiritual law.
Emphasized personal spiritual development and breaking social/moral constraints.
Considered both a mystic and a hedonist, but was genuinely pursuing spiritual enlightenment.
Seen as a genuine occultist, often cryptic, symbol-rich, and difficult to interpret.
Called “The Great Beast 666,” though largely as an ironic jab at Christian values.
