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Das Lesen der Schundkämpfer

Moralpaniken als strategische Deutungen populärer Literatur am Beispiel der Kontroverse um Nick Carter (1906–1913)
  • Raphael Rössel EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: June 8, 2019

Abstract

In contrast to former research, this paper argues that moral crusaders strategically focused on the plot level of (historical) popular literature. This article asserts that text and reception need to be combined when analysing moral panicking about textual popular culture. This approach is presented by contextualising the public denigration of two distinct narrative elements of the imported dime novel series Nick Carter in Imperial Germany, namely its urban setting and its hands-on detective hero, with changes in the perception of city life and in criminological epistemology. Departing from this example, this contribution reflects on the general benefits of such an approach for reception-oriented criticism.

Published Online: 2019-06-08
Published in Print: 2019-06-04

© 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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