1. Remember to: Balance clarity & mystery
Visually, your book cover must demonstrate:
The Macabre
The elements of the Gothic present
The unique elements of your story and what their purpose is
Remember to: Balance clarity & mystery
Cohen’s Crisis Categories: -Economic -Political -Cultural -Sexual -Racial
Additionally, you must include an artist’s statement that clearly articulates how and why your art achieves these things, as well as a connection between the Cohen thesis and your story.

2. Victorian Gothic: Introducing The Picture of Dorian Gray

3. Beauty

4. Irish playwright, novelist, essayist 1854-1900
Oscar Wilde
Irish playwright, novelist, essayist
Remembered for his epigrams, his novel (The Picture of Dorian Gray), his plays, and his death
His parents were successful Dublin intellectuals
Moved to London after university, became very successful socially and very culturally fashionable, a kind of early celebratory for simply being his kooky self
(an early, and significantly better educated, Kardashian?)

5. Originally published in Lippincott’s Monthly in 1890
Literary Context
Originally published in Lippincott’s Monthly in 1890
Revised, extended, and published in book form in 1891
The preface was added in 1891

6. The Victorian Era
What do we already know about the Victorian Era? What associations do we have with this time?

7. What is the Victorian Era?
The Victorian era of British history (and that of the British Empire) was the period of Queen Victoria’s reign from 20 June until her death, on 22 January 1901.
It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self- confidence for Britain.

8. The Victorian Era Crime On the rise
Prostitution, violent crime, theft
Glorified in the newspapers, became an entertainment of sorts
Jack the Ripper
First serial killer
Prompted media obsession
Brutal & public punishments
Industrial Revolution
Impressed by science & progress
Technology was central to their way of life
Reinforced class distinctions
Rapid urbanization

9. The Victorian era Social Class & Gender Roles 4 class distinctions
Upper, middle, lower, under
Very strict gender roles
Men were smart and cultured, women were to be seen and not heard
Sexuality
Unacceptable to be homosexual
High standards of personal morality
Prostitution was unacceptable, but were very prevalent
Family & Home Life
Housing was limited and very expensive
Resulted in a lot of slums OR obscenely wealthy folks living in giant mansions
Lots of child labor

10. The Victorian era Aesthetics
An intellectual and art movement that supported the aesthetic values of a culture
Decadent
Believed that arts should convey refined sensual pleasure, rather than convey any sort of moral message
Believed art had no purpose, needed only to be beautiful
Sometimes referred to as the ‘cult of beauty’
The biggest problem with the movement: it was very limited because of money

11. aes·thet·ics esˈTHediks/
noun
a set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty, especially in art.
the branch of philosophy that deals with the principles of beauty and artistic taste.

12. Epigram
Pithy saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever or amusing way As you read, watch for Wilde’s use of the epigrams in his dialogue. They reveal a lot to us about the characters that say them.

13. The Preface
Follow along as we read the Preface
What stands out to you about Wilde’s writing style?
What questions does the Preface leave you with?
With a partner: Create a THESIS statement about what you think the purpose of Wilde’s Preface is.
We will revisit these at the end of the novel!

14. If we can conclude that Wilde’s preface is stating that Art has no purpose and beauty is useless; and we understand the novel itself to be a work of art, can we believe in it?
Why do you think Wilde might have added this preface?

15. Come prepared to discuss characterization
Homework…
Read chapter 1
Come prepared to discuss characterization