Focus Question - What legacy did Jack the Ripper leave behind?
Jack the Ripper is intertwined with London’s history through his infamous legend and legacy. Through time the Ripper has become an almost supernatural figure and perhaps the most romanticized killer of all time consequently causing his story to become something much more than a series of unsolved crimes.
One of many Jack the Ripper Exhibitions
Jack was the first serial killer adopted by the modern media
age and has remained in this light ever since, mirroring the evolution of
western culture through a multimillion dollar industry. Standing at the center
of this industry is the unbroken, timeless interest in the case attributed to it's shocking and unsolved nature; the Ripper can be thought of as an
unknown artist whose paintings of slaughter still amaze the world today.
This has consequently seen the Ripper become a staple In fiction, news, tours,
exhibits, books, websites and popular culture.
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The ageless interest in the Ripper case also created the field of Ripperology (“the study of the infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper” – Urban Dictionary). This field is taken seriously by those who do more than dabble in it as many Ripperologists have written successful books, some of which have proven definitive sources on the subject of the murders.
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Jack the Ripper in fiction
Throughout time the Rippers legend and legacy he has become the subject of many adaptations and interpretations, below are examples of the Rippers influence in the fields of Literature, Film, Art, Comics, Theater, Music, Television, Video Games and Sport.
Film - From Hell by Albert and Adam Hugues
“The infamous Jack the Ripper case set in London of 1888. The Ripper has been running amok in the Whitechapel district murdering and dissecting prostitutes. Scotland Yard Inspector Fred Abberline, aided by his partner, Peter Godley, are on the case to figure out who this serial killer is and why he is killing these women in such a brutal manner. Abberline is an opium addict and when "chasing the dragon" he is able to have visions of the future, a certain psychic ability that allows him to solve cases. As Abberline and Godley investigate the crimes, they become acquainted with the prostitutes who were friends and colleagues of the victims. Abberline begins to fall in love with Mary Kelly, one of the prostitutes, or as the nobles called them "unfortunates", being hunted down by Jack the Ripper. Abberline digs deeper and deeper into the conspiracy and attempts to solve the case before Mary Kelly is the next victim.” - IMDB
“The infamous Jack the Ripper case set in London of 1888. The Ripper has been running amok in the Whitechapel district murdering and dissecting prostitutes. Scotland Yard Inspector Fred Abberline, aided by his partner, Peter Godley, are on the case to figure out who this serial killer is and why he is killing these women in such a brutal manner. Abberline is an opium addict and when "chasing the dragon" he is able to have visions of the future, a certain psychic ability that allows him to solve cases. As Abberline and Godley investigate the crimes, they become acquainted with the prostitutes who were friends and colleagues of the victims. Abberline begins to fall in love with Mary Kelly, one of the prostitutes, or as the nobles called them "unfortunates", being hunted down by Jack the Ripper. Abberline digs deeper and deeper into the conspiracy and attempts to solve the case before Mary Kelly is the next victim.” - IMDB
Art – Jack the rippers bedroom by Walter Sickert
“Sickert took a keen interest in the crimes of Jack the Ripper and believed he had lodged in a room used by the infamous serial killer. He had been told this by his landlady, who suspected a previous lodger. Sickert did a painting of the room and titled it "Jack the Ripper's Bedroom." It shows a dark, melancholy room with most details obscured. This painting now resides in the Manchester City Art Gallery in Manchester.” - Wikipedia
“Sickert took a keen interest in the crimes of Jack the Ripper and believed he had lodged in a room used by the infamous serial killer. He had been told this by his landlady, who suspected a previous lodger. Sickert did a painting of the room and titled it "Jack the Ripper's Bedroom." It shows a dark, melancholy room with most details obscured. This painting now resides in the Manchester City Art Gallery in Manchester.” - Wikipedia
Comics - From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
“a graphic novel originally published in serial form from 1989 to 1996 and collected in 1999, speculating upon the identity and motives of Jack the Ripper. The title is taken from the first words of the "From Hell" letter, which some authorities believe was an authentic message sent from the killer in 1888.” - Wikipedia
“a graphic novel originally published in serial form from 1989 to 1996 and collected in 1999, speculating upon the identity and motives of Jack the Ripper. The title is taken from the first words of the "From Hell" letter, which some authorities believe was an authentic message sent from the killer in 1888.” - Wikipedia
Theaterand Opera – Pandoras box by Frank Wededind
“The Ripper features at the end of Frank Wedekind's morality play Die Büchse der Pandora (1904), in which the Ripper murders Lulu, the central character. Lulu is the personification of sinful Lust who meets her comeuppance when she unwittingly flirts with the Ripper.” - Wikipedia
“The Ripper features at the end of Frank Wedekind's morality play Die Büchse der Pandora (1904), in which the Ripper murders Lulu, the central character. Lulu is the personification of sinful Lust who meets her comeuppance when she unwittingly flirts with the Ripper.” - Wikipedia
Music
Songs entitled "Ripper" were recorded by Judas Priest in 1976 , and Praying Mantis in 1979.
American deathcore band Whitechapel derived its name from the inner-city district Whitechapel in London, the location of the Jack the Ripper murders. Accordingly, the band's debut album The Somatic Defilement is a first-person narrative concept album based on Jack the Ripper.
Songs entitled "Ripper" were recorded by Judas Priest in 1976 , and Praying Mantis in 1979.
American deathcore band Whitechapel derived its name from the inner-city district Whitechapel in London, the location of the Jack the Ripper murders. Accordingly, the band's debut album The Somatic Defilement is a first-person narrative concept album based on Jack the Ripper.
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Television – Ripper Street by Richard Warlow
“A new drama set in the East End of London in 1889 during the aftermath of Jack The Ripper murders. The infamous H Division - the police precinct charged with keeping order in the district of Whitechapel- is in a chaotic state trying to keep order after a tumultuous time for London and reported infamously worldwide.” - IMDB
“A new drama set in the East End of London in 1889 during the aftermath of Jack The Ripper murders. The infamous H Division - the police precinct charged with keeping order in the district of Whitechapel- is in a chaotic state trying to keep order after a tumultuous time for London and reported infamously worldwide.” - IMDB
Video games – Sherlock Holmes vs Jack the Ripper by Frogwares
“Sherlock Holmes Versus Jack the Ripper is an adventure game for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360, developed by Frogwares. It is the fifth game in the Sherlock Holmes series of adventure games developed by Frogwares. The game takes place in the London district of Whitechapel in 1888, the historical site of the Jack the Ripper murders. ... In those streets, between 3 April 1888 and 13 February 1891, a series of horrifically violent murders occur. It is within this sinister and faithfully rendered setting, that Holmes must investigate, track and apprehend Jack the Ripper, thereby solving one of the greatest mysteries in criminal history.” - Wikipedia
“Sherlock Holmes Versus Jack the Ripper is an adventure game for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360, developed by Frogwares. It is the fifth game in the Sherlock Holmes series of adventure games developed by Frogwares. The game takes place in the London district of Whitechapel in 1888, the historical site of the Jack the Ripper murders. ... In those streets, between 3 April 1888 and 13 February 1891, a series of horrifically violent murders occur. It is within this sinister and faithfully rendered setting, that Holmes must investigate, track and apprehend Jack the Ripper, thereby solving one of the greatest mysteries in criminal history.” - Wikipedia
Sports – London Rippers
“In 2011 an independent minor league baseball team in London, Ontario announced that it would be known as the London Rippers, with a logo featuring "Jack Diamond", their mascot, wearing a top hat and black cape reminiscent of the appearance of Jack the Ripper in the popular imagination.” - Wikipedia
“In 2011 an independent minor league baseball team in London, Ontario announced that it would be known as the London Rippers, with a logo featuring "Jack Diamond", their mascot, wearing a top hat and black cape reminiscent of the appearance of Jack the Ripper in the popular imagination.” - Wikipedia
Jack the Rippers effect on London is portrayed through his legend and legacy. This legend and legacy is inextricably intertwined with the evolution of western culture through the 'industry' centered around the undying interest in his case which is conveyed through the widespread field of Ripperology and the Rippers influence in fiction, news, tours, exhibits, books, websites and popular culture.