Lustmord

More about the book

In a compelling exploration of society's fixation on sexual violence, Maria Tatar delves into the disturbing representation of the violated female corpse, a recurring image in art, literature, and media. She prompts us to examine the implications of these depictions, particularly in the context of sexual murder (Lustmord). Tatar's study spans from Weimar Germany to contemporary culture, highlighting the intersection of art and murder within the sexual politics of the time. The Weimar Republic, a period marked by political turbulence and avant-garde modernism, serves as a focal point for her analysis, revealing how male artists and writers, driven by societal fears, portrayed women as adversaries to be controlled through artistic expression. Tatar illustrates how these artists often identified with real-life murderers, exemplified by George Grosz's provocative pose as Jack the Ripper. She investigates actual cases of sexual murder that captivated public attention in Weimar Germany and discusses how the representation of murdered women reflects societal anxieties linked to war trauma and cultural production. By examining the shifting roles of victim and perpetrator, Tatar uncovers how narratives can transform the criminal into a victim of seductive evil. Her work fosters a critical dialogue on the portrayal of sexual violence in cultural media, inviting readers to understand the underlying forces at play.