A Visual Affair: Popular Culture and L'Affaire Dreyfus

Abstract

This dissertation examines the popular culture and visual material connected to the Dreyfus Affair in nineteenth century France. The Dreyfus Affair was an important political and social event that took place in the 1890s in which Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish army officer, was wrongfully accused of treason and found guilty, despite a lack of evidence. In the aftermath of the verdict, French society split into opposing camps, largely based on social and political values. Newspapers and journals covered the Dreyfus Affair prolifically and a broad variety of materials were produced that related to the Affair, such as postcards, posters, novelties, and games. It is through these items that the public really engaged with the Affair, an aspect of it that has largely been overlooked. This dissertation posits that the material produced contained a variety of functions for the public, from didacticism to entertainment. An overview of common subjects and themes is discussed to provide a general framework before the more lengthy discussion of the materials possible functions. Also explored are the concepts of low-brow and high-brow material, especially as it connects to the figure of the collector.