The Gallery Affair: A Whodunit Mystery

Carly Graham

Degree: BFA

Area: Graphic Design

Thesis Statement

The whodunit genre has a long history through many forms of media. The genre allows the viewer to test their wits against the author. By solving a murder in a whimsical world, it allows the viewer to feel as though they are working towards something with a moral purpose without being weighted down with the tragedy of death. This story, filled with tropes and unrealistic names and situations, takes away the complications of an actual murder story, allowing the viewer to focus on the game of solving a mystery. I chose to tell this story through the use of props because the small details in these everyday objects often hold the key to the mystery in whodunit stories. Props and small details are key to world-building which allow these characters to feel as though they exist in an actual world. While the viewer no longer has the ability to view these props in person, examining their details in pictures still gives insight into how these objects could relate to the case and the world as a whole. This exhibit exemplifies both the creative wit and unifying tropes of the whodunit genre, an ever-evolving game between author and viewer.