Exquisite corpse
Subtitle: surrealism and the Black Dahlia murder
By: Mark Nelson and Sarah Hudson Bayliss.
Contributors: Bayliss, Sarah Hudson.
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: Bulfinch Press
Published: 2006
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 191
ISBN-13: 9780821258194
Subjects: Hodel, George; Short, Elizabeth, -- 1924-1947; Man Ray, -- 1890-1976; Duchamp, Marcel, -- 1887-1968; Murder -- California -- Los Angeles; Surrealism; Murder in art
Description: Bridging the worlds of high art and true crime, Exquisite Corpse presents a unique perspective on the most notorious unsolved murder case of the twentieth century -- the bizarre 1947 killing of Elizabeth Short, better known as the Black Dahlia murder. Unlike previous books on the Black Dahlia, Exquisite Corpse provides a detailed and compelling explanation for the unusual nature of this gruesome killing. Exquisite Corpse reveals, through visual comparisons and historical research, what seem to be profound connections between surrealist art and the Black Dahlia case -- both before and after the murder. The evidence includes startling crime-scene and autopsy photographs of Elizabeth Short, rarely seen photographs by Man Ray, and surprising comparisons with a wide range of surrealist artworks. A "web of connections" indicates a direct link or one degree of separation between the alleged killer and a host of influential people in the arts and film industry in Los Angeles in the 1930s and 40s. A timeline provides a revealing chronology of events surrounding the murder. Exquisite Corpse is a must-read for anyone interested in true crime, art history, Hollywood noir, and the infamous Black Dahlia case.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 169-183) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction: A death and its aftermath; title: Surrealism : damaged muses and mischievous mannequins; title: Man Ray : a subversive vision; title: Minotaur and Minotaure; title: Dreams of love and death; title: The exquisite corpse : a literal reenactment?; title: After the murder; title: The L.A. art scene; title: Marcel Duchamp and the Étant donnés, part I; title: William Copley : surrealist confidante; title: Marcel Duchamp and the Étant donnés, part II; title: Afterword; title: Acknowledgments; title: Appendix I: Los Angeles 1935-1950 : a web of connections; title: Appendix II: timeline.