Spanning Literary Genre Through Transgressive Expression

Transgressive literature has many definitions and is primarily associated with the darker aspects of reality, often the grotesque or subversive, which seeks to educate or entertain the audience through shock, suspense, surprise, horror, or social commentary. This chapter examines the first mention of transgression in literature, as defined by Michael Foucault, and how it developed throughout the postmodernist movement to be one of the most prominent genres or literary elements in modern publishing. By incorporating shocking elements or subversion, transgressive literary elements highlight the cruel realities of society and allow the writer to examine various conflicts that emerge throughout existence and society. As the movement continues to grow, there is an obvious pattern of transgressive literary elements that span genres and even generations of stories throughout the course of human civilization and history. By examining some of the oldest stories, transgressive literary elements span across genres and evolve as a staple of modern literature today.