Organ of Murder
Crime, Violence, and Phrenology in Nineteenth-Century America
By Courtney E. Thompson | Publisher: Rutgers University Press
About the book
Finalist for the 2022 Cheiron Book Prize
An Organ of Murder explores the origins of both popular and elite theories of criminality in the nineteenth-century United States, focusing in particular on the influence of phrenology. In the United States, phrenology shaped the production of medico-legal knowledge around crime, the treatment of the criminal within prisons and in public discourse, and sociocultural expectations about the causes of crime. The criminal was phrenology’s ideal research and demonstration subject, and the courtroom and the prison were essential spaces for the staging of scientific expertise. In particular, phrenology constructed ways of looking as well as a language for identifying, understanding, and analyzing criminals and their actions. This work traces the long-lasting influence of phrenological visual culture and language in American culture, law, and medicine, as well as the practical uses of phrenology in courts, prisons, and daily life.
Editions of Organ of Murder
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781978813069
- EBook
- ISBN 9781978813083
- PDF
- ISBN 9781978813106
Read an Excerpt
Finalist for the 2022 Cheiron Book Prize
An Organ of Murder explores the origins of both popular and elite theories of criminality in the nineteenth-century United States, focusing in particular on the influence of phrenology. In the United States, phrenology shaped the production of medico-legal knowledge around crime, the treatment of the criminal within prisons and in public discourse, and sociocultural expectations about the causes of crime. The criminal was phrenology’s ideal research and demonstration subject, and the courtroom and the prison were essential spaces for the staging of scientific expertise. In particular, phrenology constructed ways of looking as well as a language for identifying, understanding, and analyzing criminals and their actions. This work traces the long-lasting influence of phrenological visual culture and language in American culture, law, and medicine, as well as the practical uses of phrenology in courts, prisons, and daily life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Organ of Murder about?
Finalist for the 2022 Cheiron Book Prize
An Organ of Murder explores the origins of both popular and elite theories of criminality in the nineteenth-century United States, focusing in particular on the influence of phrenology. In the United States, phrenology shaped the production of medico-legal knowledge around crime, the treatment of the criminal within prisons and in public discourse, and sociocultural expectations about the causes of crime. The criminal was phrenology’s ideal research and demonstration subject, and the courtroom and the prison were essential spaces for the staging of scientific expertise. In particular, phrenology constructed ways of looking as well as a language for identifying, understanding, and analyzing criminals and their actions. This work traces the long-lasting influence of phrenological visual culture and language in American culture, law, and medicine, as well as the practical uses of phrenology in courts, prisons, and daily life.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Organ of Murder?
Medicine and Nursing > Medicine / Healthcare: general issues / topics > History of medicine
Where can I read a sample of Organ of Murder?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781978813069
Is Organ of Murder part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Critical Issues in Health and Medicine
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Organ of Murder?
Courtney E. Thompson
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Organ of Murder is available as paperback(ISBN 9781978813069) and ebook(ISBN 9781978813083) and pdf(ISBN 9781978813106)
Where can I buy Organ of Murder online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Organ of Murder?