Abattoir Elegantiarum: Fashion Victimology and Hannibalâs Grand Designs

Seth Wilder

Jump to Content

ChapterÂ 1 Abattoir Elegantiarum: Fashion Victimology and Hannibalâs Grand Designs

In: Serial Killers and Serial Spectators

Author:

Seth Wilder

Seth Wilder
Search for other papers by Seth Wilder in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 33â55

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004692800_003

Purchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

â¬42.00â¬35.00Â excl. VAT

Add to Cart

Redeem Access Token

Abstract

During Neroâs reign, Gaius Petronius Arbiter served as the arbiter elegantiarum, the foremost authority of all things style and fashion related and on matters of etiquette and manner. On Bryan Fullerâs NBC series Hannibal, the homonymous character occupies a similar role, albeit one most unwelcome in the surrounding community, and one with darker and more nefarious designs. A reimagining of characters and situations from Thomas Harrisâ novels, the television series embodies a particularly violent aesthetic. Much of its grotesquerie revolves around its adaptation of Hannibal Lecter, an evil arbiter as preoccupied with his sense of style and manners as his twisted desires. Careful dissection of the showâs mise-en-scÃ¨ne as it relates to production design, wardrobe, and the uses and meanings of color reveals deliberate strategies that externalize Lecterâs disturbed and disturbing inner workings. It produces a âsplatzzaturaâ effect that aestheticizes and distances the violent crimes represented. In the process, the show situates the viewer in the uncomfortably comfortable position of vicariously enjoying its onscreen depredations, as much an accomplice as witness.

Citation Info

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share link with colleague or librarian

You can email a link to this page to a colleague or librarian:
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://brill.edhh.ma/abstract/book/9789004692800/BP000002.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Collapse
Expand

Serial Killers and Serial Spectators

Cultures, Narratives, and Representations

Series:Â Textxet: Studies in Comparative Literature, Volume: 107

Cover Serial Killers and Serial Spectators

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004692800

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 30 Nov 2023

Subjects
- Literature and Cultural Studies
  - Criticism & Theory
  - Comparative Studies & World Literature

Front Matter

Part 1 Seriality of Violence

Part 2 Moral Panics and Murderous Sublime

Part 3 Transnational Evil of Banality

Part 4 Spacetime of Violence

Back Matter

Metrics

	All Time	Past 365 days	Past 30 Days
Abstract Views	181	83	12
Full Text Views	6	2	0
PDF Views & Downloads	6	2	0

African Studies	Education	Media Studies
American Studies	History	Middle East and Islamic Studies
Ancient Near East and Egypt	Human Rights and Humanitarian Law	Musicology
Art History	International Law	Philosophy
Asian Studies	International Relations	Religious Studies
Biblical Studies	Jewish Studies	Slavic and Eurasian Studies
Biology	Languages and Linguistics	Social Sciences
Book History and Cartography	Life Sciences	Theology and World Christianity
Classical Studies	Literature and Cultural Studies

Subjects

Authors

Open Access

Product Information

Company

Contact

ChapterÂ 1 Abattoir Elegantiarum: Fashion Victimology and Hannibalâs Grand Designs

Abstract

Citation Info

Share link with colleague or librarian

Serial Killers and Serial Spectators

Cultures, Narratives, and Representations

Table of Contents

Metrics

Metrics

ChapterÂ 1 Abattoir Elegantiarum: Fashion Victimology and Hannibalâs Grand Designs