Blake, Modernity and Popular Culture

Whittaker, Jason (2007) Blake, Modernity and Popular Culture. Palgrave, UK. ISBN 9780230008441

Abstract / Summary

A continuation of Radical Blake that sought to expand its themes and methodologies, this collected edition brought together international Blake scholars to consider the impact of Blake’s work on a wide range of media and cultural activity, including film, graphic novels, psychology, and drama, as well as literature and the fine arts. Its origin was a conference in 2002, Blake and the Popular, held at Strawberry Hill, Twickenham and for which I was co-organiser with Steve Clark (University of Tokyo).

Linking all the essays was the exploration of ways in which the first widespread appreciation of Blake as an artist coincided with the rise of Modernism, and how Blake may thus be considered an artist working within the scope of Modernism, but also the ways he has been picked up in a variety of pop culture formats and media. As well as co-writing the introductory essay, which outlined these considerations, the author's own contribution consisted of a chapter, entitled ‘From Hell: Blake and Evil in Popular Culture’, on the use of Blake in thrillers, films, and graphic novels.

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