Date of Award

Spring 2018

Degree Type

Thesis

Director of Thesis

Catherine Keyser

First Reader

Michael Weisenburg

Second Reader

Michael Weisenburg

Abstract

Book jackets and cover art are, more than anything, an advertising tool used to attract consumers, promote book sales, and establish company identity. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is a staple in the canon of American literature whose cover art has drastically transformed in the ninety years since its original publication. This thesis traces these changes over time, focusing specifically on publishing history, art history, American culture, and thematic interpretations. In doing so, I found that the most substantial influences on these covers were publishing house identity, design trends, and available artistic techniques. Ultimately, The Great Gatsby’s cover art is able to shift readers’ expectations and comprehension, enabling it to have its own type of influence in contrast with the novel itself.

First Page

1

Last Page

65

Rights

© 2018, Jessica Harrell

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