Ripperature: Building the Myth

Constance Kent: Precursors to Fiction

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0600

HA! I published the episode within a month!

In this episode, we talk about the murder of Francis Saville Kent and the crime and murderer in common nineteenth-century media (broadsides and newspapers). We identify some common affective themes in these texts that influence and continue in adaptations of the crime.

Bear with me! Works Cited and relevant media can be found on my website (graciebain.com) ASAP.

Audio Credits:

Foggy passage by Victor_Natas -- https://freesound.org/s/664158/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Ding Ding Small Bell by JohnsonBrandEditing -- https://freesound.org/s/173932/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Piano loops 190 octave short loop 120 bpm by josefpres -- https://freesound.org/s/828429/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Fellwell5, “Long Sound Typewriter” (https://freesound.org/s/170547/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Nicholas The Octopus Camarena, “To Her” (https://freesound.org/s/681394/), This work is licensed under the Attribution 4.0 License.

01106 wild fans crowd.wav by Robinhood76 -- https://freesound.org/s/75068/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

childhood 1P63 by Setuniman -- https://freesound.org/s/403968/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

Bonus: Check out Adaptation Today!

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0600

While all ten of you wait for my second episode (I'm almost done editing, I swear), check out Adaptation Today's backlog of episodes. Adaptation Today is a wonderful resource, including a listserv, website, podcast, pedagogy tools, and mentoring programs. Here's the link to the podcast feed: https://feeds.captivate.fm/adaptation-today/

Audio Credits:

Foggy passage by Victor_Natas -- https://freesound.org/s/664158/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

The music used is an extract from the original “Swing Party” by Johnathon M. Horner (Beat Mekanik) https://freemusicarchive.org/music/beat-mekanik/single/swing-party-1/. Accessed via Free Music Archive under the Creative Commons 4.0 Int’l License. No warranties are given. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.en.

Interview Clips: Julie Grossman, James Fleury, and Kathryn McClain

Adaptation Today podcasts are hosted and edited by Rebecca Raddatz and Gracie Bain

Introduction to Season Two

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0600

She's backkkkk! Join me as I start a new season with just as much heart but a lot more winging it. In this episode, we orient ourselves towards the new season. Throughout the next couple of episodes, we'll explore the crimes of two Victorian murderers, Constance Kent and Maria Manning, and their fictional afterlives!

Bear with me! Works Cited and relevant media can be found on my website.

Audio Credits:

Foggy passage by Victor_Natas -- https://freesound.org/s/664158/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Orchestral Rising Horror #4 by M-Murray -- https://freesound.org/s/709342/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Ding Ding Small Bell by JohnsonBrandEditing -- https://freesound.org/s/173932/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Piano loops 190 octave short loop 120 bpm by josefpres -- https://freesound.org/s/828429/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Fellwell5, “Long Sound Typewriter” (https://freesound.org/s/170547/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Nicholas The Octopus Camarena, “To Her” (https://freesound.org/s/681394/), This work is licensed under the Attribution 4.0 License.

Episode Ten: Conclusion

Thu, 30 May 2024 12:42:00 -0600

Well, here we are! It’s the final episode of this season. Today, we’ll recap our arguments and reflect on the journey.

Works Cited can be found on my website.

Audio Credits:

Audio Credits

Theme Music: Victor_Natas. "Foggy Passage." Free Sound, 12 December 2022, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/664158/.

Victorian Bell: JohnsonBrandEditing, “Ding Ding small bell.” Free Sound, 12 January 2013, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/173932/.

Transition Instrumental: Nicholas The Octopus Camarena, “To Her.” Free Sound, 30 March 2023, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/681394/.

Background Music: Oymaldonado, “movie score classical music loop part 1.wav.” Free Sound, 24 Oct. 2014, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/252798/.

Awrmacd, “Orchestral Suspense Loop 1.” Free Sound, 6 April 2017, WAV file,(https://freesound.org/s/387223/.

Typewriter: Trollarch2, “Keyboard Typing.” Free Sound, 26 Dec. 2015, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/331656/.

Fellwell5, “Long Sound Typewriter.” Free Sound, 26 Nov. 2012, WAV file, https://freesound.org/people/fellwell5/sounds/170547/.

Creepy Music Arcane_77, “Intro ou background musical.mp3.” Free Sound, 19 July 2022, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/642503/).

Background Music: Josefpres, “Piano loops 073 octave down long loop 120 bpm.wav.” Free Sound, 2 April 2023 WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/681948/.

Romantic Music: EKVelika, “Chonology of love.” Free Sound, 7 January 2021, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/553821/.

Suspense Music: Tyops, “Thriller Suspense Theme,” Free Sound, 26 July 2018, WAVE file, https://freesound.org/s/435600/.

Street Sound: Guynoland, “Horses Pavement Then Cobblestone.m4a,” Free Sound, 21 December 2020, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/549882/

Dramatic Music: Sami_Hiltunen, “Dramatic theme.wav,” Free Sound, 22 October 2021, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/593475/.

Episode Nine: From Hell

Wed, 22 May 2024 08:00:00 -0600

In the last episode of our detective chapter, we examine the movie From Hell and a fictional version of the historical detective involved in the actual case, Detective Abberline. We also discuss how the victims are portrayed in this film and how they interact with each other and the police. Works Cited can be found on my website. Special thanks to Dana Blair.

Audio Credits

Theme Music: Victor_Natas. "Foggy Passage." Free Sound, 12 December 2022, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/664158/.

Victorian Bell: JohnsonBrandEditing, “Ding Ding small bell.” Free Sound, 12 January 2013, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/173932/.

Transition Instrumental: Nicholas The Octopus Camarena, “To Her.” Free Sound, 30 March 2023, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/681394/.

Background Music: Oymaldonado, “movie score classical music loop part 1.wav.” Free Sound, 24 Oct. 2014, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/252798/.

Awrmacd, “Orchestral Suspense Loop 1.” Free Sound, 6 April 2017, WAV file,(https://freesound.org/s/387223/.

Typewriter: Trollarch2, “Keyboard Typing.” Free Sound, 26 Dec. 2015, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/331656/.

Fellwell5, “Long Sound Typewriter.” Free Sound, 26 Nov. 2012, WAV file, https://freesound.org/people/fellwell5/sounds/170547/.

Creepy Music: Arcane_77, “Intro ou background musical.mp3.” Free Sound, 19 July 2022, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/642503/).

Background Music: Josefpres, “Piano loops 073 octave down long loop 120 bpm.wav.” Free Sound, 2 April 2023 WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/681948/.

Romantic Music: EKVelika, “Chonology of love.” Free Sound, 7 January 2021, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/553821/.

Suspense Music: Tyops, “Thriller Suspense Theme,” Free Sound, 26 July 2018, WAVE file, https://freesound.org/s/435600/.

Street Sound: Guynoland, “Horses Pavement Then Cobblestone.m4a,” Free Sound, 21 December 2020, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/549882/

Dramatic Music: Sami_Hiltunen, “Dramatic theme.wav,” Free Sound, 22 October 2021, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/593475/.

Episode Eight: Stalking Jack the Ripper

Wed, 15 May 2024 08:00:00 -0600

It’s time! In this episode, we discuss the very popular book Stalking Jack the Ripper and how the protagonist/forensic detective is a complicated portrayal of neo-Victorian gender. Works cited can be found on my website.

Voice Actors: Olivia Cash

Audio Credits

Theme Music: Victor_Natas. "Foggy Passage." Free Sound, 12 December 2022, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/664158/.

Victorian Bell: JohnsonBrandEditing, “Ding Ding small bell.” Free Sound, 12 January 2013, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/173932/.

Transition Instrumental: Nicholas The Octopus Camarena, “To Her.” Free Sound, 30 March 2023, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/681394/.

Background Music: Oymaldonado, “movie score classical music loop part 1.wav.” Free Sound, 24 Oct. 2014, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/252798/.

Awrmacd, “Orchestral Suspense Loop 1.” Free Sound, 6 April 2017, WAV file,(https://freesound.org/s/387223/.

Typewriter: Trollarch2, “Keyboard Typing.” Free Sound, 26 Dec. 2015, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/331656/.

Fellwell5, “Long Sound Typewriter.” Free Sound, 26 Nov. 2012, WAV file, https://freesound.org/people/fellwell5/sounds/170547/.

Creepy Music:Arcane_77, “Intro ou background musical.mp3.” Free Sound, 19 July 2022, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/642503/).

Background Music: Josefpres, “Piano loops 073 octave down long loop 120 bpm.wav.” Free Sound, 2 April 2023 WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/681948/.

Romantic Music: EKVelika, “Chonology of love.” Free Sound, 7 January 2021, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/553821/.

Suspense Music:Tyops, “Thriller Suspense Theme,” Free Sound, 26 July 2018, WAVE file, https://freesound.org/s/435600/.

Street Sound: Guynoland, “Horses Pavement Then Cobblestone.m4a,” Free Sound, 21 December 2020, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/549882/

Dramatic Music:Sami_Hiltunen, “Dramatic theme.wav,” Free Sound, 22 October 2021, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/593475/.

Episode Seven: A Study in Terror

Wed, 08 May 2024 09:00:00 -0600

Today, we’ll explore a film called A Study in Terror, which combines two very famous Victorian figures, Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper. In this episode, we talk about how one of the most popular detective figures mirrors what we know about detective surveillance and how the movie treats the victims.

Voice Actors: Ross Schmidt, Dana Blair, Kristen Figgins

Works cited can be found here: https://graciebain.com/works-cited-6/

Audio Credits:

Theme Music: Victor_Natas. "Foggy Passage." Free Sound, 12 December 2022, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/664158/.

Victorian Bell: JohnsonBrandEditing, “Ding Ding small bell.” Free Sound, 12 January 2013, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/173932/.

Transition Instrumental: Nicholas The Octopus Camarena, “To Her.” Free Sound, 30 March 2023, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/681394/.

Background Music: Oymaldonado, “movie score classical music loop part 1.wav.” Free Sound, 24 Oct. 2014, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/252798/.

Awrmacd, “Orchestral Suspense Loop 1.” Free Sound, 6 April 2017, WAV file,(https://freesound.org/s/387223/.

Typewriter: Trollarch2, “Keyboard Typing.” Free Sound, 26 Dec. 2015, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/331656/.

Fellwell5, “Long Sound Typewriter.” Free Sound, 26 Nov. 2012, WAV file, https://freesound.org/people/fellwell5/sounds/170547/.

Creepy Music: Arcane_77, “Intro ou background musical.mp3.” Free Sound, 19 July 2022, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/642503/).

Background Music: Josefpres, “Piano loops 073 octave down long loop 120 bpm.wav.” Free Sound, 2 April 2023 WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/681948/.

Romantic Music: EKVelika, “Chonology of love.” Free Sound, 7 January 2021, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/553821/.

Suspense Music: Tyops, “Thriller Suspense Theme,” Free Sound, 26 July 2018, WAVE file, https://freesound.org/s/435600/.

Street Sound: Guynoland, “Horses Pavement Then Cobblestone.m4a,” Free Sound, 21 December 2020, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/549882/

Dramatic Music: Sami_Hiltunen, “Dramatic theme.wav,” Free Sound, 22 October 2021, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/593475/.

Episode Six: Ripperature Detectives

Wed, 01 May 2024 08:00:00 -0600

In our first episode on detectives, we walk through some common detective tropes, the dependence of Ripperature on those tropes, and the dime novel “The Whitechapel Murders: Or, On the Track of the Fiend” (published in 1888).

Works cited can be found here: https://graciebain.com/2024/04/30/works-cited/

Audio Credits:

Theme Music: Victor_Natas. "Foggy Passage." Free Sound, 12 December 2022, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/664158/.

Victorian Bell: JohnsonBrandEditing, “Ding Ding small bell.” Free Sound, 12 January 2013, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/173932/.

Transition Instrumental: Nicholas The Octopus Camarena, “To Her.” Free Sound, 30 March 2023, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/681394/.

Background Music: Oymaldonado, “movie score classical music loop part 1.wav.” Free Sound, 24 Oct. 2014, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/252798/.

Awrmacd, “Orchestral Suspense Loop 1.” Free Sound, 6 April 2017, WAV file,(https://freesound.org/s/387223/.

Typewriter: Trollarch2, “Keyboard Typing.” Free Sound, 26 Dec. 2015, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/331656/.

Fellwell5, “Long Sound Typewriter.” Free Sound, 26 Nov. 2012, WAV file, https://freesound.org/people/fellwell5/sounds/170547/.

Creepy Music: Arcane_77, “Intro ou background musical.mp3.” Free Sound, 19 July 2022, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/642503/).

Background Music: Josefpres, “Piano loops 073 octave down long loop 120 bpm.wav.” Free Sound, 2 April 2023 WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/681948/.

Romantic Music: EKVelika, “Chonology of love.” Free Sound, 7 January 2021, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/553821/.

Suspense Music: Tyops, “Thriller Suspense Theme,” Free Sound, 26 July 2018, WAVE file, https://freesound.org/s/435600/.

Street Sound: Guynoland, “Horses Pavement Then Cobblestone.m4a,” Free Sound, 21 December 2020, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/549882/

Dramatic Music: Sami_Hiltunen, “Dramatic theme.wav,” Free Sound, 22 October 2021, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/593475/.

Episode Five: The Michaelmas Girls

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 22:16:00 -0600

In our final episode on Jill the Ripper, we examine perhaps one of the more difficult texts, The Michaelmas Girls, to discuss Jill the Ripper’s violence. In this episode, an unofficial detective figure suspects Mary Jane Kelly of participating in the murders. Content note: This novel discusses some deeply upsetting themes about queerness in addition to the already upsetting narrative of the murders. Special thanks to voice actors Jeremy, Dana, and Ross. Works Cited can be found here https://graciebain.com/works-cited-5/

Audio Credits

Street sound: Guynoland, “Horses Pavement Then Cobblestone.m4a,” (https://freesound.org/s/549882/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Theme music: Victor_Natas, "Foggy Passage" (https://freesound.org/s/664158/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Keyboard: Trollarch2, “Keyboard typing” (https://freesound.org/s/331656/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Typewriter: Fellwell5, “Long Sound Typewriter” (https://freesound.org/s/170547/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Suspense music: Tyops, “Thriller Suspense Theme,” (https://freesound.org/s/435600/), This work is licensed under the Attribution 4.0 License.

Transition instrumental: Nicholas The Octopus Camarena, “To Her” (https://freesound.org/s/681394/), This work is licensed under the Attribution 4.0 License.

Victorian bell: JohnsonBrandEditing, “Ding Ding small bell” (https://freesound.org/s/173932/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Creepy music: Arcane_777, “Intro ou background musical” (https://freesound.org/s/642503/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Episode Four: Doctor Jekyll and Sister Hyde

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 10:45:00 -0600

In this episode, Gracie leads you through the cinematic masterpiece Doctor Jekyll and Sister Hyde, which combines Jill the Ripper with another famous culture-text, Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. We talk about the intertextual nature of the Jack the Ripper myth, the “improper feminine,” and the queer potential of this film.

Works Cited can be found here

Audio Credits:

Theme Music:

Victor_Natas. "Foggy Passage." Free Sound, 12 December 2022, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/664158/.

Victorian Bell:

JohnsonBrandEditing, “Ding Ding small bell.” Free Sound, 12 January 2013, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/173932/.

Transition Instrumental:

Nicholas The Octopus Camarena, “To Her.” Free Sound, 30 March 2023, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/681394/.

Background Music:

Oymaldonado, “movie score classical music loop part 1.wav.” Free Sound, 24 Oct. 2014, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/252798/.

Awrmacd, “Orchestral Suspense Loop 1.” Free Sound, 6 April 2017, WAV file,(https://freesound.org/s/387223/.

Typewriter:

Trollarch2, “Keyboard Typing.” Free Sound, 26 Dec. 2015, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/331656/.

Creepy Music

Arcane_77, “Intro ou background musical.mp3.” Free Sound, 19 July 2022, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/642503/).

Background Music:

Josefpres, “Piano loops 073 octave down long loop 120 bpm.wav.” Free Sound, 2 April 2023 WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/681948/.

Romantic Music:

EKVelika, “Chonology of love.” Free Sound, 7 January 2021, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/553821/.

Suspense Music:

Tyops, “Thriller Suspense Theme,” Free Sound, 26 July 2018, WAVE file, https://freesound.org/s/435600/.

Street Sound:

Guynoland, “Horses Pavement Then Cobblestone.m4a,” Free Sound, 21 December 2020, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/549882/

Dramatic Music:

Sami_Hiltunen, “Dramatic theme.wav,” Free Sound, 22 October 2021, WAV file, https://freesound.org/s/593475/.

Episode Three: Jill Rips

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 14:15:00 -0600

Who else had Dolph Lundgren on their 2024 Ripperature bingo card? In this episode, we look at the 2000 film Jill Rips and its portrayal of Jill the Ripper. We talk about perhaps one of the more unlikable protagonists, Matt, and his relationship with a BDSM female serial killer. Buckle up!

Sources can be found at https://graciebain.com/episode-three/.

Audio Credits:

Film Clips: Jill the Ripper. Directed by Anthony Hickox. Sony Pictures, 2000.

Theme music:

Victor_Natas, "Foggy Passage" (https://freesound.org/s/664158/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Victorian bell

JohnsonBrandEditing, “Ding Ding small bell” (https://freesound.org/s/173932/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Transition instrumental

Nicholas The Octopus Camarena, “To Her” (https://freesound.org/s/681394/), This work is licensed under the Attribution 4.0 License.

Dramatic music

Sami_Hiltunen, “Dramatic theme.wav” (https://freesound.org/s/593475/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Check-in

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 12:30:00 -0600

Hi, everyone! Just to update everyone, I won't be publishing any more episodes until I graduate this semester. Don't worry! I am continuing to record and edit the rest of the season. See you soon!

Theme music:

Victor_Natas, "Foggy Passage" (https://freesound.org/s/664158/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Episode Two: Jill the Ripper

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0600

In the second episode of this season, Gracie introduces one of the more popular theories of the Whitechapel Murderer’s identity, Jill the Ripper. After briefly establishing the historical context for this theory, we talk about Victorian gender ideology and what a female serial killer means for a mythology like the Whitechapel Murders using a dime novel from 1889 called “The Whitechapel Murders; Or, An American Detective in London.”

Voice Actors and Interviewees: Ross Schmidt, Michael Blair, Jeremy Figgins, Michele LaCrue, Dana Blair

Sources can be found at http://graciebain.com/episode-two/

Audio credits:

Theme music:

Victor_Natas, "Foggy Passage" (https://freesound.org/s/664158/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Victorian bell

JohnsonBrandEditing, “Ding Ding small bell” (https://freesound.org/s/173932/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Creepy music

Arcane_77, “Intro ou background musical.mp3” (https://freesound.org/s/642503/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Typewriter

Fellwell5, “Long Sound Typewriter” (https://freesound.org/s/170547/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Transition instrumental

Nicholas The Octopus Camarena, “To Her” (https://freesound.org/s/681394/), This work is licensed under the Attribution 4.0 License.

Background music

Josefpres, “Piano loops 073 octave down long loop 120 bpm.wav” (https://freesound.org/s/681948/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Romantic music

EKVelika, “Chonology of love” (https://freesound.org/s/553821/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Suspense music

Tyops, “Thriller Suspense Theme,” (https://freesound.org/s/435600/), This work is licensed under the Attribution 4.0 License.

Street sound

Guynoland, “Horses Pavement Then Cobblestone.m4a,” (https://freesound.org/s/549882/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Introduction to Ripperature: Building the Myth

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0600

Welcome to Ripperature: Building the Myth! In this episode, Gracie introduces Jack the Ripper as a culture-text, briefly explains the five women canonically characterized as victims of Jack the Ripper, and places you within the theoretical and gender contexts of the season. Special thanks to: Michel Lacrue, Olivia Cash, Nicole Patrao!

Sources can be found at http://graciebain.com/episode-one/

Audio Credits:

Victor_Natas, "Foggy Passage" (https://freesound.org/s/664158/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

JohnsonBrandEditing, “Ding Ding small bell” (https://freesound.org/s/173932/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Nicholas The Octopus Camarena, “To Her” (https://freesound.org/s/681394/), This work is licensed under the Attribution 4.0 License.

Oymaldonado, “movie score classical music loop part 1.wav” (https://freesound.org/s/252798/), This work is licensed under the Attribution 4.0 License.

Awrmacd, “Orchestral Suspense Loop 1” (https://freesound.org/s/387223/). This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Trollarch2, “Keyboard Typing” (https://freesound.org/s/331656/). This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Trailer: Season One

Thu, 11 May 2023 00:00:00 -0600

What do you think of when you hear "Jack the Ripper"? In 1888, five women, Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Kelly, were murdered and mutilated in London’s East End. Though scholars debate the validity of this claim, contemporary Victorian newspapers reported the women as sex workers, and that characterization continues today. The Whitechapel Murder narrative is inseparable from sexual violence against women. Jack the Ripper is one of the most famous unsolved mysteries in the Western world and is continually referenced in fiction like “The Whitechapel Murders; Or, An American Detective in London” (1889), television shows like Ripper Street (2012-2016), and other media forms.

Ripperature: Building the Myth explores fictional adaptations of Jack the Ripper, or Ripperature. Jack the Ripper, a fictitious moniker for an unknown killer, has been credited as the first modern serial killer and, as such, has lasting impacts on true crime discourse, including the ways gender, labor, and violence intersect. Join me as I attempt to answer the questions: Why do we keep fictionalizing these gruesome crimes? Why are we still obsessed with these crimes? What does our obsession tell us about ourselves?

For more info, go to my website: https://graciebain.com/

Special thanks to:

Nicole Patrao

Olivia Cash

Ross Schmidt

Theme song credit:

Victor_Natas, "Foggy Passage" (https://freesound.org/s/664158/), This work is licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.

Film clip from

Doctor Jekyll and Sister Hyde. Directed by Roy Ward Baker, Hammer Film Productions, 1971.