Me, Jane - STEVEN R. TABOR

Me, Jane

Why are we so nostalgic for certain characters?

The Tarzan films have played an important role in cinematic history. These films revolve around the adventures of Tarzan, a man raised by apes in the African jungle after being orphaned as a child. A crucial figure in the Tarzan films is Jane, Tarzan's love interest. Jane is often depicted as a resourceful and independent woman from Western society, visiting the African jungle as part of an expedition.

In various iterations of the Tarzan films, Jane's character evolved to reflect changing societal attitudes towards gender roles. While earlier portrayals depicted her primarily as a damsel in distress, later adaptations emphasized her independence, intelligence, and willingness to embrace the challenges of the jungle. In fact, the first mainstream film to ever include nudity was “Tarzan and his Mate”, which was released in 1934.

In this series, the model Anke plays tribute to “Jane”. As in the Tarzan films, she is portrayed as a strong woman who is seen wandering about in the forest before washing off the mud from her body in a local stream.

If you would like to see the full series, download the PDF photobook here.