Culturally, Jack the Ripper is one of London’s most enticing and well-know myths. It is nearly impossible trying to find a person, whether inside or outside the city of London, who has not heard of this brutal serial killer. In the East End of London, during a span of four months between August and November of 1888, a series of shocking murders were committed by this mysterious Jack the Ripper character. Some people may be surprised to discover that only five women, which could also be as many as seven, were killed by the Ripper. For such a small number of victims, why has Jack the Ripper remained so famous even to this day? How is it that he has become a world-known phenomenon for so many years?

There are three main aspects to the Ripper’s unmerited popularity. The severity and degree of brutality received by each victim plays a huge part, as well as the press frenzy that ultimately resulted. It is obvious that the gruesome and cold-hearted killing techniques carried out by this murderer has left an imprint on the people of London. They had never been exposed to malicious violence like this before and the press took full advantage. It is apparent that Jack the Ripper felt no sympathy while committing his crimes. First of all, The Ripper’s victims (all women prostitutes) were strangled, ultimately crushing their voice box and leaving them unable to scream for help. They were then slit in the throat from the right side of the neck all the way to the left, leaving the head hanging on only by the strength of their spinal cord. Usually, the Ripper then preformed abdominal, genital, or facial mutilations to varying degrees; some were even mutilated beyond recognition. Mary Jane Kelly, thought to be the last victim, was professionally disemboweled with all her internal organs and intestines removed and hung around the room like decorations. Undoubtedly, these acts of violence on victims, who were usually left in plain sight of others, terrified the city.

Mary Jane Kelly’s body

Another main factor that contributed to spreading this fear and boosted Jack the Ripper’s popularity world-wide was the press. The Jack the Ripper phenomenon was one of the first serial killer stories to be covered and published by the press. Copious letters were received not only by the press, but by police and private citizens of people claiming to be the Ripper. Even the murderer’s title, “Jack the Ripper,” came from a letter received on September 25, 1888 that was sent to the Central News Agency.

By printing this letter in almost every newspaper world-wide, the “Jack the Ripper” title was born and became one of the first identities created by the press. This shows how the media has a critical influence over what their audience hears and believes. The Jack the Ripper letters were published in every major newspaper in early October of ’88, which began a storm of hoax letters from other citizens. Over 600 letters were received by the press. Reactions like this were triggered based on the fact that the press was a major source for social change. As it says in Graeme Turner’s book, British Cultural Studies, change is brought about by “the power of the text over the reader,” shaping messages that force ideological ideas onto whoever is receiving them. The press shaped the concept of the Ripper and spread it throughout the city. Every day activates of the Ripper, as well as results and actions taken by the police, were printed in the newspapers for everyone to read. This generated feelings of terror and fear for the people living in East End. The news put together a version of reality by publishing certain pictures, letters, and articles that created a reflection of what terrible things were happening in the world. The narratives people read about in the news contribute to how they construct their own reality about the Ripper. The in-depth press coverage made the murders a “new thing,” turning the brutal reality of the original crimes into legends with the Jack the Ripper character as the “bogey man.”

It began to turn into a story, something to be read and separated from life. In a way, the press is responsible for creating the Jack the Ripper legend and making it so well-known around the world. Today, there are over 114 non-fiction books directly related to the Ripper and that number grows by half a dozen each year. I don’t think we should worry about this culturally significant story fading away any time soon.

The concept of the Ripper is a myth that is here to stay. I use the word myth because, unlike stories written solely in fiction or non-fiction, Jack the Ripper is neither. It is neither full truth nor made up, but a combination of both. It is a story based off of true and traumatic events, but is intertwined with myths about who the killer is and what actually happened to his victims. The idea of Jack the Ripper has been constructed through stories and represented within society based on ideologies created by the press. The murderer was never caught or identified. In order to put some kind of answer to these incidents, the press pointed out “raving maniacs” who foamed at the mouth as the murderers. That it must only be a lunatic who could commit such horrific crimes. It is the press and media that create the images and ideas in our heads. Therefore, murderers must be mentally insane, right? On the contrary, most serial killers are quiet, personable, and keep to themselves. They don’t want to be noticed. Therefore, this mysterious Ripper character has become an intellectual puzzle people want to solve, leaving millions confused on how something so unjust could even happen. When bringing all these aspects together, the gruesome violence, the unsolved myth, and, most importantly, the unguarded whirlwind created by the press, it is obvious to see and understand why Jack the Ripper has remained one of London’s most vivid and recognized stories over so many years.

References:
Turner, Graeme. British Cultural Studies. London, England. Unwin Hyman Inc.; 1990.

Ryder, Stephen P. (Ed.) “Introduction to the Case.” Casebook: Jack the Ripper. Accessed: 19 July 2009.

“The Whitechapel Murders and Jack the Ripper.” Accessed: 18 July 2009.

I feel as if the title of this book also reflects a postmodern point of view. To say “the Buddha of suburbia” is combining two different traditions into one idea. Combining these traditions is a way to ultimately cancel out any single truth or idea one individual may have. It is easy to believe in Buddha or in the idea of Suburbia, but it is just as easy to picture them together? It is basically saying that if there is a Buddha of suburbia, then maybe there is a Buddha of the city or a Buddha of the country. If there is more than one Buddha, is there more than one God? Overall, it is questioning the truths than so many people live their lives by. It is making the point that there are no absolute truths and that we will never be able to know them. The Buddha of Suburbia is a great example of a postmodernism narrative.

I thoroughly enjoyed going to the London Eye as well. It is something I’ve always wanted to experience and was well worth the wait. Not only did we get to see pretty much all of London, we got to look down on the city from a different perspective. Big Ben, Parliament, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, all these overwhelming places seemed so tiny from where we were. When looking at the skyline, St. Paul’s looked as if it didn’t belong where it was. First of all, the historic dome shaped cathedral is surrounded by much newer square shaped buildings. Also, it seems so far away from the other historic buildings in London. Even though St. Paul’s looked small and the same size as the other buildings, it still stood out over every single one of them.

I liked the suggestion of connections between certain characters throughout the book. Mrs. Dalloway and Septimus, for example, look as if they could be each others double. Even though they share completely different lives, it’s obvious that Mrs. Dalloway and Septimus struggle with the same issues daily and share many of the same traits. I feel as if they are both very complex characters, struggling with a balance between their internal versus their external lives. They also seem to be the two characters that battle with their own emotions the most, being unable to share them with anyone who surrounds them. It was interesting to see that Mrs. Dalloway somewhat looked up to Septimus for taking his own life and almost envied him.

The reoccurring theme of being unsatisfied with who you are compared to who you want to be is huge throughout this novel. I know numerous people who are terrified that they will grow up one day to live a life of disappointment; simply settling for what will only get them by day to day. Mrs. Dalloway is obviously unhappy on the inside, wishing she could some what get past the superficial, shallow life of high society and posh parties. She wants to find deeper, emotional meanings in life, but keep her own privacy as well. Why can’t she have both I wonder?

Tower of London

St. Paul’s

Westminster Abbey has definitely been one of my favorite field trips since we’ve arrived in London. The detailed architecture and overall history of the church is enough to occupy my attention for a long time! Even though everything was very interesting, a few things jumped out that I really enjoyed, such as Poet’s Corner, the Cloisters, and Abbey Museum. I want to focus more on the Cloisters because I feel like they played a central role at Westminster. The Cloisters were originally a place for the community of monks to meet together and read or pray daily, where they would perform their daily tasks. This area was also used for an area of exercise and meditation. Within the Cloisters you can also find dormitories and the Chapter House, where Parliament would meet in the 14th century. The Cloisters were used not only as a social and religious place of gathering, but also for use by the House of Parliament. The Cloisters represent a sense of community, peace, and devotion not just for monks, but for the people of London as well.

The National Gallery: Irises by Monet

I really enjoyed getting to walk around the National Gallery and just getting to take my time to look at all the artwork that truly interested me. Monet and his work is definitely one of my all times favorites. After looking at his pieces, Irises is the painting I want to discuss. Initially it captured my eye because of the great colors and lines used to create such a unique look. It was interesting that most of Monet’s pieces including paintings of irises and nature were done in his own backyard. It adds a certain personal feel to the portrait. I feel like this painting represents the simplicity and peace found in nature. It is a symbol of Monet’s transition as he becomes older and turns his focus to what is directly around him, his backyard for example. The view point of this piece of art also stands out to me. It was mentioned that Monet may have been standing on a bridge facing downwards to get the perspective used in Irises. I’d have to say it was my favorite painting compared to the others!

Also, Basil’s initial obsession with Dorian is an aspect that I found very interesting. It seems that the influence of others plays a huge role in this book and this initially begins with the influence Dorian has over Basil. Simply after seeing Dorian for the first time, Basil feels as if his entire being, his whole soul could be absorbed by Dorian’s fascinating personality. For whatever reason, Dorian’s personality inevitably influences Basil’s art by suggesting some sort of new mode of style and an entirely new manner in which he creates his art. Basil believes that Dorian opens his eyes to things that he had always missed before. The role of influence is also extremely apparent between Lord Henry and Dorian. Dorian, who is young and impressionable, slowly but surely takes on a lifestyle much like that of Lord Henry, which includes a pleasure-seeking outlook with no concern of morality. This made me wonder, are influences such as this unavoidable? Do the people who surround you ultimately influence the way you live?

It was also interesting to see the effects that these influences had on the characters. Basil’s idolatry of Dorian and the overwhelming influence that followed eventually lead to Basil’s murder. And the harmful influence that Lord Henry had over Dorian resulted in Dorian’s own destruction and downfall at the end of the novel. It’s safe to say it’s important to acknowledge who is influencing you and the way you live your life. The wrong influence can lead to ruin and I think that ties in pretty close with a main theme that is obvious throughout the novel, which is to be careful what you place your values on and where your morals stand.

The field trip today was definitely a great learning experience about the past culture of London. There were so many different pieces of artwork and historical figures that I could have focused on after visiting the Museum of London, but one that stuck with me was St. Paul’s Cathedral. One of the first things I noticed when we rode on the bus through the city was the old but, beautiful churches that stuck out like sore thumbs. I think it is really cool that even as times change, and inevitably the appearance of everything, these historic churches and cathedrals remain somewhat untouched. It’s rare to find something of that much value and importance in our culture back home.

The display stated that the Christian Church was central to the lives of Londoners and that, relating it to one of the aspects of cultural studies discussed in class, it is a significant representation of faith, charity, hope, resilience, and strength. It is also a symbol and monument to the glory of God. It is definitely categorized as an icon in London. Churches were extremely important to British culture and provided people with schools, hospitals, and shelter for the homeless. The Cathedral has changed over time, with the current cathedral being one of four. London’s Anglo-Saxon Cathedral was destroyed in a fire in 1087 and the building of the next was not completed until 1241. After work was finished to extend the east end of the building in a new gothic style in the 1320’s, the cathedral stood as the largest building in England. I found it really interesting that the spire was more than 120 meters high. I am really excited about actually getting to visit St. Paul’s Cathedral and getting to personally witness its architectural and artistic beauty.

The conflict between structuralism and culturalism seemed to be a pretty big key aspect throughout the book as well. Structuralism, which inevitably disagrees with Thompson’s view, saw concentration on individual experience as romantic and humanistic. On the contrary, culturalists felt as if structuralism was too abstract, rigid and theoretical. The differences seem endless, but ultimately structuralists viewed culturalists as naïve and lacking in theory, while culturalists saw structuralists as theoreticist and ahistorical. It is a good thing that today there is a lot more interchange between these approaches and that many points of issue have been resolved.

It is very important for all of us who are studying in London to be able to understand the theories and ideas of culture around us. Technically this is our home for five more weeks and we will all be going through the process of assimilating into a new way of life and we need to be able to learn and adapt. I’ve only been here for four days and I can already see the difficulty of getting into the flow of how everything is done here, as well as how it will most likely be difficult returning to America and American culture.