Thursday 5 March 2009

DETECTIVE MAGAZINES

Nowadays, they are obsolete and grotesque; but, from the 1920's until the 60's, detective magazines were read weekly by all of America. The detective fever kicked off with the Great Depression, when bootleggers and swindlers were normality and petty criminals, as well as big time gangsters, were very nearly superstars. As time went by, the econmy grew stronger and as a result crime rates lowered. It was then that the stories began to focus on domestic crime and to take a very sexual nuance. Women acquired a very important role as the lowest version of "Femme Fatale", either as deadly temptresses or as well deserved victims of horrible tortures; only fit for the gutter, in any case. The attractions of detective magazines were many: they offered sin, scandal and sex for the bargain of 15 cents; enough to feed the lowest passions of the average American without making him feel guilty. For, as the seal on the cover of all magazines said, "crime does not pay".

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