Hanging High for Entertainment; A Popular Performance in Tyburn, London
Disciplines
Dramatic Literature, Criticism and Theory | Fine Arts | Performance Studies | Social History | Theatre History
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Hanging High for Entertainment; A Popular Performance in Tyburn, London
This project delves into the fascination behind public hangings in Tyburn, London and why it became such a spectacle. Throughout Tyburn’s history, hangings were the most efficient way to rid multiple criminals at once while leaving a lesson to onlookers. These hangings eventually evolved into a largely attended family outing which later became known as the “Tyburn Fair”. This paper focuses on the ending of Tyburn’s story (1700-1783) and addresses the following question: How did justice become a popular performance and why did it draw thousands? My presentation will focus on the hangings from 1700 to 1783. I will be looking at a mixture of primary and secondary sources to back up my research. My sources include images, academic articles, peer reviewed articles, and news articles. This paper is relevant today because it reminds us of how entertainment has evolved since the 1700s and allows us to reflect on how the justice system has evolved as well.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
Theatre and Performance Studies
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Thomas Fish
Hanging High for Entertainment; A Popular Performance in Tyburn, London
Hanging High for Entertainment; A Popular Performance in Tyburn, London
This project delves into the fascination behind public hangings in Tyburn, London and why it became such a spectacle. Throughout Tyburn’s history, hangings were the most efficient way to rid multiple criminals at once while leaving a lesson to onlookers. These hangings eventually evolved into a largely attended family outing which later became known as the “Tyburn Fair”. This paper focuses on the ending of Tyburn’s story (1700-1783) and addresses the following question: How did justice become a popular performance and why did it draw thousands? My presentation will focus on the hangings from 1700 to 1783. I will be looking at a mixture of primary and secondary sources to back up my research. My sources include images, academic articles, peer reviewed articles, and news articles. This paper is relevant today because it reminds us of how entertainment has evolved since the 1700s and allows us to reflect on how the justice system has evolved as well.