Modern Murders: The Turn-of-the-Century's Backlash Against Melodramatic and Sensational Representations of Murder, 1880-1914

Modern Murders explores the turn of the century's backlash against melodramatic and sensational representations of murder, demonstrating their importance in the struggles for better aesthetic standards and mass culture debates. It provides a comprehensive study of murder representations in art, entertainment, and popular culture, offering valuable insights to scholars and general readers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Modern Murders is a groundbreaking exploration of murder representations during the turn of the century, delving into previously overlooked archival material to unravel the intellectual, cultural, and artistic contexts of this pivotal period. While some studies perceive the abundance of murder representations in the nineteenth century as a reflection of a supposedly typical Victorian fascination with sensation and melodrama, Modern Murders presents a different perspective. It demonstrates the turn of the century's backlash against melodramatic and sensational portrayals of murder, interpreting them as a significant component in the battles for improved aesthetic standards in art and entertainment. Moreover, the volume recognizes murder representations as a dominant feature in the debates on mass culture.

Through a rich tapestry of visual and written texts, encompassing representations of fictional and actual real-life murders, as well as high and popular forms of writing, Modern Murders examines the significance of murder in the elite's claim to cultural authority. It also explores its perception by the plebeian taste, within the context of the democratization of culture. This comprehensive volume is of immense value to scholars and graduate students across various research areas, as well as to general readers with an interest in the role of murder as a central trope in modern art and culture.

Weight: 500g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032120218