Currently, defamation and disparagement may appear omnipresent. But phenomena of invective are not restricted to the contemporary world, by any means. They have existed at all times and in all cultures. They can unfold in spontaneous acts as well as in literary and artistic genres. The media extend their reach and link them to established communicative patterns. Such conventions form a framework controlling subjective experiences of vilification and degradation. In 21 highlights, this collection of essays gives an impression of the many forms of degradation - ranging from ancient diatribes and Reformation era pamphlets to the Weimar Republics election posters and current satires or Twitter storms. - Cultural History Art and Satire Early Modern Age Pamphlets

Lea Hagedorn, Marina Münkler, Felix Prautzsch, research area "Invektivität: Konstellationen und Dynamiken der Herabsetzung", TU Dresden