DEVILRY, DEVIANCE, AND PUBLIC SPHERE : the social discovery of moral panic in eighteenth century... london

“By showing the reader how the moral crises of earlier centuries can impact on our understanding of contemporary society Hamerton has revitalised the complex concept of moral panic. Stan Cohen would have been impressed.” -- Professor Dick Hobbs, University of Essex, UK “This is a rare book, one which combines the skilful evaluation of complex theory and rigorous historical research in a sophisticated but accessible form. A stimulating, thought-provoking, and highly recommended read.” -- Professor Julia Davidson, OBE, University of East London, UK “A very timely and much needed contribution, shedding fresh light on Stanley Cohen's 'moral panic' theory. This book should be widely read across the social sciences and humanities. It will be on my students' reading lists, and should be marked for inclusion on many others.” -- Dr Mark Ramsden, University of Cambridge, UK Devilry, Deviance, and Public Sphere draws on criminology and social theory to explore and expand social historical themes in the analysis of perceptions of deviance and crime in the eighteenth century. Developing the theoretical device of Folk Devils and Moral Panics, instigated by Stanley Cohen and developed by Erich Goode and Nachman Ben-Yehuda, the book explores the social discovery of, and public response to, crime and deviance in that period. Detailed contemporary case studies of youth violence, sexual deviance, and substance abuse are used to argue that Hanoverian London and its novel media can be identified as the initiating historical site for what might now be termed public order moral panics. In doing so, Hamerton provides a vivid historical lineage of moral panic which traverses much of the long eighteenth century. The book considers social change, allowing for points of theoretical convergence and divergence to be observed, whilst exploring historical models of public opinion, media, deviance and crime alongside the unique character and power located within the burgeoning Metropolis. Devilry, Deviance, and Public Sphere seeks to make an important contribution to the understanding of both moral panic theory and the historiography of crime and deviance, and posits that the current discourse on folk devils and moral panics can be extended and enriched via the exploration of the moral crises of earlier centuries. Christopher Hamerton is Deputy Director of the Institute of Criminal Justice Research in the School of Economic, Social and Political Sciences at the University of Southampton, United Kingdom Foreword References Acknowledgements Contents Abbreviations 1 Introduction Commencing the Procession Finding Folk Devils and Moral Panics in Eighteenth-Century London The Structure and Scope of This Book References 2 Crime History, Historical Criminology, and Moral Panic Theory The Emergence of the New Left and Social History from Below Coming of Age: Albion’s Fatal Tree Historicising Folk Devils and Moral Panics London as Host of the Burgeoning Public Sphere The Appliance of Social Science Cohen, Goode and Ben-Yehuda, and the Socio-Historical Locus of Moral Panic Theory References 3 The Shaping of Opinion: Literacy, Media, and Folk Devils in Eighteenth-Century London Eighteenth-Century London as Public Sphere Literacy, Oral Culture, Idea Transmission The Significance of Imagery to Consensus of Morality From Popular Press to Watchman Press Unearthing the Origins of Folk Devils: Beyond the Newgate Calendar Concluding Thoughts References 4 The Crucible of the Young Metropolis Living Cheek by Jowl: Stratification, Diversity, and Built Environment in the City Hub of Commerce, Temptation, and Strain Mobile vulgaris: The Noise of Thousands of Tongues and Feet The Morality of the Mob: Consensus and Symbolism in the Beggar’s Opera The Contradiction of Social Control Within the Infancy of Criminal Justice Concluding Thoughts References 5 Who Has Not Trembled at the Mohocks Name? Panic on the Streets, 1712 Rake Culture and Gang Violence Discovery: A Small Nation of Savages Prediction: Press Consolidation and Calls for Order Consensus and Disproportionality by Royal Proclamation Political Capitalism and the Guardians of Order Perspective: Defoe, Gay, and Tragi-Comical Farce Dénouement and Symbolisation Concluding Thoughts on This Episode References 6 Kill-Grief and Comfort: Madam Geneva and the London Gin Panic, 1720–1751 No Devil in the Native Drink Innovation and Discovery: The Seductive Madam Geneva Always Roving: The Revenue Imperative and the Human Cost The Trial of the Spirits: Legislative Window Dressing The Premature Death of Madam Geneva The Lesser of Two Evils: Crime, Consensus, and Moral Regulation Concluding Thoughts on This Episode References 7 Morality Amid Monstrosity: The London Monster Panic, 1790 Sex, the Metropolis, and the Monstrosity of Deviance Folk Devils and Sexual Monsters Discovery: ‘Oh ho! Is That You!’ The Pursuit of Decency: Consensus, Panic, and the Press Moral Entrepreneurship and the Focussing of Hostility Hysteria, Ridicule, and Iconography Capture, Censure, and the Machinations of Trial by Media Concluding Thoughts on This Episode References 8 Conclusion References Bibliography Index