Extension one Summary
What aspects students must consider:
How CF adapted to different eras and cultures
How these adaptations reflect the attitudes and values of these eras and cultures
Why CF arose as a genre
What social and cultural conditions have led to the appeal of CF
The reasons for and validity of generic distinctions
History of CF
Early CF
Edgar Allan Poe wrote 'The Purloined Letter'
'Sensational novels' - use melodramatic techniques to solve mystery
'Case book novels'- short stories focusing on police procedures to solve the crime
Sir Arthur Cannon Doyle creates Sherlock Holmes
Clear conventions.
Eg: disguise central to plot due to police's need to rely on disguise and informal methods of investigation due to their lack of authority of the time and societies dislike with police of the time.
The importance of reconstructing the crime
For this point onwards CF became more popular while some focused on scientific evidence of the crimes, others portrayed crimes that seemed beyond rational explanation, but then eventually explained.
Golden Age of CF
Post WW1-1930's was the period where CF became dramatically more popular. The genre began to diversify \ many new sub-genres were created.
Intuitionist (Cosy CF)
Detective and intrigue are the focus
Atmosphere is crucial
Unrealistic setting and 2 dimensional characters
Detective is divorced from danger of the crime, but assesses all details. Reliance on logic.
Not about life- stereotyped characters, improbable coincidences and being unbelievable.
Normally traditional English dignitary and etiquette was affronted by a violent crime
Agatha Christie
A well-known author of the sub-genre.
Characters always stereotyped, undeveloped and predictable
Makes no attempt to create a believable presentation of real life, as the mystery is the focus
Seems to create almost a world for escapism, as it is so divorced from the real...
This could be much better
But it lacks an overall organizational structure or purpose and instead drones on endlessly. Points are listed one after another after another after another after another with zero analysis.
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