UNDER COVER GOOD AND EVIL WITHIN BRITISH CRIME VA 2014-2015 FICTION Fondazione Sacro Cuore, Milano Prof. Monegato TABLE OF CONTENTS
• CRIME FICTION - INTRODUCTION • THE SECRET AGENT - DEFINITIONS • RESEARCH QUESTIONS • CULTURAL ANALYSIS: a) The Secret Agent (J. Conrad), Sabotage (A. Hitchcock) b) The Man Who Was Thursday (G. K. Chesterton) c) 1984, (G. Orwell), Apple Macintosh - TV ad d) Casino Royale (I. Fleming) • CONCLUSIONS • MAPPING THE SECRET AGENT AS A CULTURAL AGENT – IS S/HE A HERO, A VILLAIN OR A CRIMINAL HERO?
2 REASEARCH QUESTIONS RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
• How is the Secret Agent described in OUR selection of cultural representations? Is he a positive, a negative or an ambiguous character? Is he a “criminal hero”?
• Are GOOD and EVIL two categories which could be applied to the character of the Secret Agent? Why?
4 RESEARCH METHOD
• PROF: Identify a set of texts dealing with the character of the Secret Agent within a specific time and (cultural) place. • YOU: Build background knowlege around the texts (see: next slide) • YOU: Read, watch, «experience» the texts: • Identify three excerpts to be (visually) analysed over Christmas holidays. The should be at least 20 lines long. All excerpts should deal with the Secret Agent. Cut and paste your excerpts on a word document and send them to [email protected] . Don’t forget to mention all required biliogrphical references. DEADLINE: XIV December 2014 • CHRISTMAS HW: Analyse the texts – visual analysis on selected excerpts, answer the research questions for every single text. Don’t forget to use the Background Knowledge you’ve built around the novel. • CLASS AFTERNOON GROUP ACTIVITY: Compare and contrast your results • CLASS ACTIVITY: Draw to a possible conclusion
5 BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
• Title: • Date of publication: (circumstances…) • Author: (name, important dates, biosketch, relevant and pertinent ideas, fame) • Socio-cultural period (written and published): • Setting: • Main characters: • Plot: (don’t forget you should concentrate on the Secret Agent) • Some cover images:
6 CRIME FICTION INTRODUCTION GENRE-SUBGENRE: CRIME FICTION … SPY STORY POLITICAL WRITING
THRILLER DYSTOPIA
8 CRIME FICTION: LITERARY ANCESTORS
• CAIN AND ABEL • OEDIPUS THE KING, SOPHOCLES (430BC) • THE REVENGE TRAGEDY OF THE LATE ELIZABETHAN AND EARLY JACOBEAN PERIOD (END OF XVI CENTURY – BEGINNING OF XVII CENTURY) HAMLET (W. Shakespeare) • THE NEWGATE CALENDAR (1773) • CALEB WILLIMAS (1794) BY WILLIAM GODWIN • THE GOTHIC NOVEL • MÉMOIRES (1828) BY FRANÇOIS VIDOCQ • «THE MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGE» E.A.POE, 1848 9 CRIME FICTION: MIRRORING SOCIETY
• 1812 (Paris): Bureau des Renseignements – first modern detective agency; 1850 (USA): first detective agency response to rising crime rates social and cultural upheavals that were a result of the Industrial Revolution: poorly planned and constructed urban areas, urbanization, large-scale urban unemployment
birth of the modern police force: (1828) The Metropolitan Police Act 10 1848-…
11 THE BRITISH GOLDEN AGE
• In crime fiction, the Golden Age of Crime Fiction refers to the period between the IWW and the IIWW, and is usually used to refer specifically to the flowering of British talent and to the mysteries written in Britain during this time.
Conventionally, it starts in 1920 with Agatha Christie’s début novel – The Mysterious Affair at Styles
12 CRIME FICTION: NOW
• FLUID DEFINITION • POPULAR TASTE • NOT ONLY LITERATURE AND REPORTAGES!
13 LET’S FOCUS OUR WORK ON THE SECRET AGENT - DEFINITIONS
1) a government employee whose job involves getting secret information about the governments of unfriendly foreign countries http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/secret-agent
2) Noun. a person employed in espionage Synonyms = spy, undercover agent, spook (AE), nark, cloak-and-dagger man http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/secret-agent
14 Thanks to prof.ssa N. Di Ciolla, Criminal Hero aa2014 2015 UNIMI
THE CRIMINAL HERO: A NEW PARADIGM? HERO OR VILLAIN?
• Edward Snowden – CIA and NSA employee. Divulged intelligence on US government practices and exposed mass-scale international surveillance. “From loyal NSA contractor to whistleblower, from patriot to America's most wanted” (Headline adapted from The Guardian, 1st February 2014) • Julian Assange – Founder of WikiLeaks (2006), which published footage of US soldiers shooting dead 18 Iraqi civilians from a helicopter. “To his supporters, Julian Assange is a valiant campaigner for truth. To his critics, he is a publicity-seeker who has endangered lives by putting a mass of sensitive information into the public domain.”(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world- 11047811) 16 THE HERO
QUALITIES
OUTSTANDING DEEDS PARADIGM OF HEROIC BEHAVIOUR
OUTCOMES “hero-myth”
17 18 Criminal / Hero ? ADVENTURE INTENTION
TYPE
IMPACT
OUTCOME
19 THE CRIMINAL • CRIME: “an intentional act in violation of the criminal law, committed without defence or excuse, and penalised by the State” (Tappan, Paul. 1947. 'Who is the criminal?', American Sociological Review, 12: 96-112, p 100).
• The perception of an act as “criminal” depends on three units of measure: SOCIETAL ATTITUDES - The consensus amongst the population about what is a right act and what is a wrong act (= mala per se); THE VIEW OF THE LAW - The degree of severity with which the law punishes any given act (= mala prohibita); THE OVERALL PERSPECTIVE - The evaluation of the level of harm caused by the act (this is a combination of societal view and State response).
20 THE LOVEABLE ROGUES: criminal heroes? • Robin Hood (English Folklore) - Anglo-saxon freedom fighter who combats against the Norman usurpers. “Steals from the rich to give to the poor” • Arsène Lupin (Maurice Leblanc, 1905) - “the gentleman thief ”
21 The Secret Agent (J. Conrad) Bassi, Mapelli, Redaelli, Smania Life (Poland 1857-Britain 1924)
• Real name: Teodor Jozef Konrad Nalecz Korzeniowski Poland • Tyrannical rule of Russia exile • 1874: Marseilles worked as a mariner • 1878: English ship learned English 1886 British subject • 1890: Africa Congo Diary • The horrors of the Congo mental breakdown • Abandon the sea and devote himself to writing dating is not simple some published in book form, some published serially • 1924: died for an heart attack
23 «Homo duplex»
DUPLICITY characterizes both his interesting life and the contradictions of his work.
• Double nationality
• Two professional careers
• Mixed social identity
24 The Secret Agent (1907)
• Published in 1906Magazineshort story • Published in 1907 Book edition • Inspiration Greenwich Bombing of 1894. • Conrad's political novels anarchism, espionage, and terrorism. • Socio-cultural period: Late 19th century, late Victorian Age
25 Author’s Note
«(…) I really think that The Secret Agent is perfectly genuine piece of work. Even the purely artisctic purpose, that of applying an ironic method to a subject of that kind, was formulated with deliberation and in the earnest belief that ironic treatment alone would enable me to say all I felt I would have to say as well as in pity.»
NARRATIVE IRONY METHODOLOGY
26 Setting: London
• London 1886 • Embassy • Greenwich park • Verloc’s house and shop
27 Characters: Mr. Verloc (the secret agent?)
• A secret agent “agent provocateur” for an unnamed embassy who also owns a shop in London. • His primary characteristic, as described by Conrad, is indolence. • He is part of an anarchist organization. • He is married to Winnie, and lives with his wife, his mother-in-law, and his brother-in-law, Stevie.
28 Plot
Mr Verloc is the owner of a shop and he works for a foreign embassy. He is a mysterious man who has some anarchist friends. He lives with his wife Winnie and her brother Stevie who has a mental disability. He is in charge of placing a bomb in Greenwich Park in order to move the public opinion against the anarchists. He uses his brother-in-law, Stevie, to carry the bomb but he accidentally gets killed stumbling on a tree root. During the investigation, Chief Inspector Heat finds connection with an ex-convict, Michaelis. However, his superior, the Assistant Commissioner shares some influential acquaintances with Michaelis. Winnie discovers, by a visit of Heat, that Stevie has been killed and kills his husband for revenge. Eventually she suicides while fleeing to France.
29 Covers
30 Sabotage (1936) The Secret Agent (1996) directed by A. Hitchcock directed by C. Hampton
Bassi 31 Mr. Verloc (the secret agent)
The Secret Agent (book) Sabotage Secret Agent (movie) • He is an agent provocateur. . He is a saboteur. Same as the book. His physical • He works with words, he is not . He uses Stevie in order to features mirror his character. brave. have his work done. Embassy scene • He does not do anything, he Aquarium scene When Mr. Verlc is about to die, makes other poeple act. . He owns a cinema. Mrs. Verloc tells him she only • He reckons Stevie’s death is an . After Stevie’s death, he is married him because of Stevie. accident and Winnie is partially worried for himself, not really Hat scene guilty because she wrote understanding Mrs. Verloc’s Stevie’s name and address on grief. his coat. • His shop of illegal material is a front for his real job, but it is not solid. • He seems an incompetent buffoon. 32 Aquarium scene
• Mr. Verloc thinks he has done his job as a saboteur, however, he has only made London laugh.
• He is incompetent and people mock his attempts of sabotage.
33 Embassy scene
• Mr Verloc has difficulties trying to cross the road because of some carriages and horses. clumsy and amusing • Mr. Verloc is out of proportion: he is small compared to the enormous room and columns. • He seems a child when he is sitting on the couch it mirrors his character
34 Hat scene
• Mr. Verloc seems astonished He did not expect his wife to kill him. He was sure of her love.
• His hat falls down the stairs when Mrs. Verloc tells him she only married him because of Stevie The hat is the symbol of his job, it is the object that gives him credibility Together with the hat, the appearances fall.
35 The explosion
Secret Agent (book) Sabotage Secret Agent (movie) • The explosion is not . The narration is Same as the book, directly narrated. The chronological. The however, the reader understands audience follows audience sees the what has happened Stevie’s walk until the episode during Mr. through a dialogue explosion Verloc’s confession between Ossipon and suspense after the dialogue the Professor. The target . The target is between Ossipon and is science, thus, Piccadilly Circus. the Professor. Greenwich.
36 The explosion (2)
• The explosion is what Mr. Verloc is supposed to do in order to accomplish his duty.
• Stevie does his work The secret agent is not brave and he causes Stevie’s death. • Mr. Verloc just talks, he does not act.
37 The Man Who Was Thursday (G. K. Chesterton) Lepore, Papa, Pasquinelli, Pozzetti The plot
Gabriel Syme is a poet who is joined up by the police and who starts an investigation around a group of anarchists. He meets an anarchist, Gregory, and succeeds in entering in the anarchist's Secret Council which is made up of seven people who are named with the names of the days. He is elected Thursday and discovers little by little that all the men of the council are policemen. They were all joined up by an unknown man and all the citizens living in London are following them. Finally they discover that all the people thought that they were anarchists. Consequently they meet Sunday which is also the man who engaged them. He escapes from them and they try uselessly to reach him. At the end they are accommodated in a house where Sunday identifies himself as "the Sabbath, the peace of God". Then arrives Gregory, the true anarchist, who accuses them not to suffer like himself. Toward the end of the story Sunday becomes bigger and bigger and then Syme's Nightmare ends, and he finds himself with Gregory.
39 Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936)
• One of the most prolific and influential English writers • Journalist, essayist, poet, novelist, dramatist, literary critic and writer of short stories • His best-known character: the priest-detective Father Brown • Very personal style, marked by humility, paradox, wit, and wonder
40 LIFE
• 1874: London, middle-class family • agnostic environment • 1893: started School of Art • 1895: started working for a London publisher and then as a journalist • 1901: got married: his wife renewed his Christian faith • 1914: physical and nervous breakdown • After WW1: leader of the Distributist movement and later the President of the Distributist League • 1922: converted to Roman Catholicism several theologically oriented works • 1936: died of heart failure
41 FAITH AND WORKS 1903 + 1906: Robert Browning + Charles Dickens • About 100 books and 4,000 essays 1904: The Napoleon of Notting Hill 1908: The Man Who Was Thursday • Meeting with his wife discovery 1908: Orthodoxy of Christian faith 1911: The Innocence of Father Brown • Aim: defend “common man” and 1922 conversion common sense 1923 + 1933: St Francis of Assisi + St • Against all the trends of the 20th Thomas Aquinas century (posthumous): Autobiography + • On of the greatest apologists for a great number of articles and essays the Christian faith “Defender of on various topics (literary criticism, the faith” apologetics, theology, politics, etc.)
42 IDEAS
Interested in politics throughout his life: . at first Liberal: anti-imperialist ideas, especially during the Boer War in South Africa . after WW1 supporter of distributivism: economic ideology based upon the principles of Catholic social teaching (Rerum Novarum ) according to it, property ownership is a fundamental right and the means of production should be distributed as widely as possible rather than being centralized under the control of the state (socialism) or of a few individuals (capitalism)
A committed Christian, even before his conversion to Catholicism: . Christian themes and symbolism always present in his writing . very concerned with the false philosophies dominating his society, he used his pen to: defend orthodox Christianity warn mankind against the danger of an atheist society 43 The Man Who Was Thursday (1908)
• Inspiration: after recovery from depression, wrote this book to affirm that “goodness and right are at the heart of every aspect of the world” [Illustrated London News, 13 June 1936]
• Prefaced with a poem dedicated to his friend E. C. Bentley, focusing on the challenges brought to faith by the times
• Socio-cultural period: first years of 20th century (Edwardian age)
44 COVERS
Penguin ,2010 Penguin, 2008 Penguin, 2012 Simon & Brown, 2011
“An artist is identical with an anarchist," he cried. […]. An anarchist is an artist. The man who throws a bomb is an artist, because he prefers a great 45 moment to everything.” Anarchism “society is the enemy of the man” (G. Syme) o Generally defined as the political philosophy, which holds the state to be immoral, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations. o Anarchists advocate stateless societies based on what are sometimes defined as non-hierarchical organizations, and at other times defined as voluntary associations.
o Chesterton exposes all the contradictions of anarchy, the The narrator common idea of freedom against the idea of a council of remains objective anarchists led by one man (Sunday).
Realism 46 Gabriel Syme o He may be a considered a poet His feelings are more radical than other men. Ex: he is able to see in the colours of the sunset a metaphor of policemen’s attitude towards human kind
o Syme experiences an upset of his values Ex: allegory “weak sun” confusing with the “naked moon”.
Impressionism = “wood of witchery” => confusion given by using the colors in the picture of this period of history of art. This is the wood of evolution, in which one thing turns into something else, and every "thing" is really only a random collection of elements that appears to be something until it disintegrates and the elements randomly form some new appearance.
o DETECTIVE undercover Unsolved problem => it is the reader’s task to find an ANARCHIST undercover answer. 47 Gabriel Syme: hero, villain or criminal hero?
Hero Villain Criminal Hero
Syme is a detective and he accomplishes He is an anarchist “undercover” as an agent He knows what is right but he follows the with his task. He maintains the promise instruction given by the Anarchist Council made to Gregory
He doesn’t reveal the identity of the other He can be considered as a nihilist, someone "So that each thing that obeys law may have policemen. who would destroy himself and a world he the glory and isolation of the anarchist. So hates – EXCERPT #1 that each man fighting for order may be as brave and good a man as the dynamiter"
48 1984 (G. Orwell) Citterio, Bugo, Di Gangi, Valgoi Life and works
• Born Eric Blair in India (1903) • Educated at Eton, he develops an independent personality (atheism and socialism) • He became a member of the India Imperial Police • 1927: he went on leave and decided not to return • In London he experienced poverty through social experiments in which he spent short periods living in common lodging-houses in the East End. • After a period in Paris he decided to begin publishing his works under the pseudonym of George Orwell.
50 • In 1936, he married Eileen (she shared his ideals) • In December 1936 he went to Catalonia to report on the Spanish Civil War • He joined the POUM and he fought in the trenches of the Aragon front. • In 1941 he joined the BBC, broadcasting cultural and political programmes from India. • In 1943 he became the literary editor of ‘Tribune’, an influential socialist weekly.
51 The artist
• Orwell has an unusual ability to see the country where he lives from the outside and to judge it. • He believed that writing interpreted reality and therefore writing has a useful social function. • Indebted to Dickens in the choice of social themes and the use of realistic and factual language, he conveyed a vision of human fraternity and of the misery caused by poverty and deprivation. • He warned against the increasing artificiality of urban civilisation. • He presented a critique of totalitarianism.
52 1984 – the plot
The novel describes a future world divided into three blocks: Oceania, an empire of which England is no longer the head but just an outpost, Eurasia, including Russia and Europe; Eustasia, that is, Asia and Far East. The regimented, oppressive world of Oceania is ruled by the Party, which is led by a figure called Big Brother. In order to control people’s lives any expression of individuality are forbidden but the protagonist, Winston Smith, illegally buys a diary in which he begins to write his thoughts and memories, addressing them to the future generetions. At the Ministry of Truth he meets Julia and they begin a secret affair. One day, O’Brien, a member of the powerful Inner Party, summons them to his luxury flat and tells them that he too hates the Party and works against is as a member of the Brotherhood led by Emmanuel Goldstein. This mysterious group his trying to overthrow the Party. Then O’Brien gives to Winston a copy of Goldstein’s book, when Winston begins to read it some soldiers suddenly break in his room and arrest him. He is taken from the Ministry of Love, where he finds out that O’Brien is a Party spy. For months O’Brien tortures and brainwashes Winston, who struggle to resist. At last, O’Brien sends him to room 101, where Winston will is broken and he is released to the outside world. He does not love Julia anymore, he has completely given up his identity and has learned to love Big Brother.
53 1984
• Genre: Dystopian novel published in 1949 (written in 1948).
• Dystopia shows shows possible future societies that are anything but ideal and that satirize existing conditions of society. • Through Newspeak it is possible to overturn the reality and it makes impossible to express personal ideas.
54 1984 covers
55 The first Apple commercial - directed by Ridley Scott
• Television commmercial based on 1984 written by George Orwell. • 1984 is an American TV commercial which launched the Apple Macintosh personal computer. • It was aired only twice in America. Firstly on December 31st, 1983. Its second broadcasting was January 22nd, 1984 during a break of Super Bowl XVIII.
Bugo
56 The plot
• The spot opens with a dystopic industrial setting • Suddenly, it appears a running girl. • Her aim is to destry the big screen in which the Big Brother is speaking to everybody, saying:
“Today we celebrate the first glorious anniversary of the information Purification Directives. We have created, for this time in all history, a garden of pure ideology – where each worker may bloom, secure from the pests purveying contradictory truths. Our Unification of Thoughts is more powerful a weapon than any fleet or army on earth. We are one people, with one will, one resolve, one cause. Our enemies shall talk themselves to death, and we will bury them with their own confusion. We shall prevail!”.
While the voice is telling “we shall prevail” the screen is broken by the hammer. The video ends with the message:
“on January 24th, Apple Computer will introduce Macintosh. And you’ll see why 1984 won’t be like 1984”.
57 The speech
Today we celebrate the first glorious anniversary of • The Big Brother shows his idea of the Informaton Purification Directives. We have created, for the first time in all history, a garden of garden of pure ideology pure ideology. Where each worker may bloom secure • Lack of freedom from pests of contradictory and confusing truths. Our Unification of Thoughts is more powerful a weapon • Image described in 1984 used to than any fleet or army on earth. We are one people, with one will, one resolve, one cause. Our enemies contrast the new possibilities given by shall talk themselves to death and we will bury them the new Macintosh tecnology. with their own confusion. We shall prevail!
58 Aim of the spot
Through the contrast with the dystopic world of 1984 created by G. Orwell, Apple presents Macintosh as synonym of freedom.
1984 by Orwell: 1984 by Apple:
• Dystopic world • Ideal world • Loss of freedom • Increase of freedom thanks to • Homogenization of people the new Macintosh tecnology • People able to do something they have never done before
59 Orwell’s secret agent
• In 1984 written by George Orwell, the secret agent isn’t a real secret agent. He could be considered as a hero only within this story. • In the story, we can easily see that he has human characteristics (he falls in love with Julia) which are not typical of a secret agent.
In 1984 by G. Orwell the secret agent plays a secondary role.
60 Orwell vs. Apple
1984 by G. Orwell 1984 by Apple
• Winston considered as a secret • No secret agent! agent BUT other • Hero because he is a rebel topics taken from • He only works for himself 1984
61 Casino Royale (I. Fleming) James Bond – the prototype of all SECRET AGENTS
• James Bond: physical appearance ‘Name: Bond, James. Height: 183cm, weight: 76 kilograms; slim build; eyes: blue; hair: black; scar down right cheek and on left shoulder; signs of plastic surgery on back of right hand; all-round athlete; expert pistol shot, boxer, knife-thrower; does not use disguises. Languages: French and German. Smokes heavily (NB: special cigarettes with three gold bands); vices: drink, but not to excess, and women. Not thought to accept bribes.’ Ian Fleming, From Russia With Love
• James Bond – Bond Girls http://www.ianfleming.com/james-bond-2/bond-girls/
• James Bond – The Villains He Fought: http://www.ianfleming.com/james-bond-2/the-villains-he-fought/ • Actors who have played 007 http://www.007.com/characters/the-bonds/
63 Casino Royale (1953) Trailer (2006): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36mnx8dBbGE
• Main characters: James Bond: Agent 007 of the British Secret Service. Monsieur Mathis: Helps Bond on the mission. Vesper Lynd: The "Bond-girl" in this book. Monsieur Le Chiffre: One of the Opposition's chief agents in France Felix Leiter: A CIA agent sent to help Bond. M: Admiral Sir Miles Messervy KCMG, head of MI6 and superior of James Bond. Mrs Du Pont: A fellow player in the big game against Le Chiffre.
• Plot: In the novel that introduced James Bond to the world, Ian Fleming’s agent 007 is dispatched to a French casino in Royale-les-Eaux. His mission? Bankrupt a ruthless Russian agent who’s been on a bad luck streak at the baccarat table. One of SMERSH’s most deadly operatives, the man known only as “Le Chiffre,” has been a prime target of the British Secret Service for years. If Bond can wipe out his bankroll, Le Chiffre will likely be “retired” by his paymasters in Moscow. But what if the cards won’t cooperate? After a brutal night at the gaming tables, Bond soon finds himself dodging would-be assassins, fighting off brutal torturers, and going all-in to save the life of his beautiful female counterpart, Vesper Lynd.
64 007: A hero? A villain? A Criminal Hero?
• James Bond: career When Bond was seventeen, an old friend of his father’s sent a letter of introduction for James to the Admiralty, where Bond began work shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. During the War, Bond was enrolled in the secret service joining the newly created Special Operations Executive, later to become Special Operations (SO). Bond undertook missions abroad for several years before being reassigned to London in 1949. Shortly after his return to London, Bond was awarded a license to kill, and from that moment on became known as agent 007.
‘The double-o prefix, was a great honour. It had been earned hardly. It brought Bond the only assignments he enjoyed, the dangerous ones.’ Ian Fleming, Dr No
Casino Royale. Trailer (2006) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36mnx8dBbGE
65 REASEARCH QUESTIONS & POSSIBLE ANSWERS THE SECRET AGENT - DEFINITIONS
1) a government employee whose job involves getting secret information about the governments of unfriendly foreign countries http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/secret-agent
2) a person employed in espionage. Synonyms = spy, undercover agent, spook (AE), nark, cloak-and-dagger man http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/secret-agent
67 RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
• How is the Secret Agent described in OUR selection of cultural representations? Is he a positive, a negative or an ambiguous character? Why? • How is the Secret Agent described in OUR selection of cultural representations? Is he a hero, a villain or a “criminal hero”? Why?
VERLOC, SYME, WINSTON, JAMES BOND
• Are GOOD and EVIL two categories which could be applied to the character of the Secret Agent? Why? Why not?
68