‘Young while the Earth is old | and, subtly of herself contemplative’: investigating the influence of Pre-Raphaelitism on Neo-Victorian visions of femininity

Murray, Helen Victoria (2018) ‘Young while the Earth is old | and, subtly of herself contemplative’: investigating the influence of Pre-Raphaelitism on Neo-Victorian visions of femininity. MRes thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

It is rare to find a Neo-Victorian text which does not reference the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Through character archetypes, aesthetics and book design, the Pre-Raphaelite arts provide a referent for authors to signify Neo-Victorian culture. However, much recent criticism of Pre-Raphaelitism centres around the assumption that the feminine aesthetics of the movement are always ‘the gorgeously fetishised object of a desiring gaze’ (Tickner, 2003). While this is partly true, it is also a reductive method for reading the breadth of Pre-Raphaelite culture. This thesis examines how Neo-Victorianism centres and unites femininity with creativity, placing women at the centre of artist narratives. It argues that Neo-Victorian Pre-Raphaelitism offers an alternative vision of the movement and its members, co-opting the Victorian mode to re-centre Pre-Raphaelite womanhood.

• Item Type: Thesis (MRes)
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Additional Information: Due to copyright issues the full electronic version of this thesis is not available for viewing. An edited version (3rd party copyright removed) is available.
• Keywords: Neo-Victorianism, Neo-Victorian, Pre-Raphaelitism, Pre-Raphaelites, hauntology, womanhood, femininity, nineteenth century.
• Subjects: P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General); P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN0080 Criticism; P Language and Literature > PR English literature
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > English Literature
• Supervisor's Name: Creasy, Dr. Matthew and Jenkins, Professor Alice
• Date of Award: 2018
• Depositing User: Ms Helen Victoria Murray
• Unique ID: glathesis:2018-74379
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 06 Sep 2019 15:41
• Last Modified: 06 Sep 2019 15:44
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/74379