Skin as Antithesis: The Lure of Newspapers for Opposites

This chapter explains the centrality of the rhetorical device ‘antithesis’ in the portrayal of skin in Victorian newspapers. The depiction of skin through diametrical opposites served epistemological and aesthetic functions, ultimately aimed at constructing knowledge not only about the anatomy of skin but also about how we can imagine the organ through mental abstractions. In particular, I will explore the multifaceted discourse surrounding the concept of skin through the lens of a Victorian poem circulated in newspapers of the time, highlighting the importance placed upon individual agency in connection to skincare. Additional case studies drawing on news reports of the time, will demonstrate that the depiction of skin could be torn apart into clashing views, carrying ideological implications regarding the relationship between the human inner world and the outer world.