Fatal Woman, The Origin of Evil, and other tantalising tales
There has long been a thirst for cheap, mass-produced depictions of violence and crime narratives, from 18th century crime 鈥榖roadsides鈥� sold at public executions to 19th century 鈥榩enny dreadfuls鈥�.
The University of Sydney鈥檚 Fisher Library is not immune to their charms: holds an extensive collection of detective fiction, encompassing 20th century crime novels as well as pulp fiction[i]听series. Now, for the first time, some of these books are on display.
Lurid: Crime Paperbacks and Pulp Fiction听showcases works by the likes of Raymond Chandler and Patricia Highsmith 鈥� focusing on their cover designs. The mid-century, green-saturated period of Penguin crime literature paperbacks, for instance, demonstrates the 鈥楳arber Grid鈥�, with two-thirds of the layout allowing for striking modernist illustration and bold graphic design.
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Penguin classics that demonstrate the 'Marber Grid' layout.听
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鈥淭here is power in the simplicity of these designs with their limited colour palette, elements of photomontage, collage, drawing and geometric pattern, and use of sans serif font,鈥� exhibition co-curator听听said.
The Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director, at听听continued: 鈥淎t the other extreme of the literary spectrum, there are the garish, titillating and often misogynistic designs that adorn pulp fiction covers.
鈥淭he racy titles and compositional elements of femmes fatales and wanton dames, gangsters and gumshoes, and occasional homoerotic imagery, were designed to catch the eyes of disposable sleaze readers (and criminologists).鈥�
Other notable titles in the exhibit include:
- Agatha Christie鈥檚听The Body in the Library
- Alan Geoffrey Yates鈥檚 detective series, written under his nom de plume听
- Glen Chase鈥檚 鈥�Sexecutioner鈥� series featuring Cherry Delight, 鈥榯he world鈥檚 sexiest crimefighter鈥�
A selection of titles on display.听
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Dr McKay鈥檚 research has two strands: technology and the law, and visual criminology.
Lurid, which she curated with Julie Price, Liaison Librarian, Rare Books and Special Collections, harnesses the latter, including her skills as a visual artist, to explore our ongoing obsession with representations of criminality.
Lurid: Crime Paperbacks and Pulp Fiction runs from 17 February to 20 June 2020. It will be located on level 3 of听听and in the听听at the University of Sydney, and is free and open to the public.
[i]听Pulp fiction听refers to fast-paced, compelling stories, printed on low quality paper, that was popular in the 1930s and 40s.听听
Header image:听Donald Edgar听via Unsplash.