In 1895, Oscar Wilde stood trial at the Old Bailey courthouse in London, where his wit, writing, and private life were all dragged into public scrutiny. The courtroom, meant for justice, became a stage, and Wilde, once the playwrighter, was forced to perform a defense of his own identity. His words that used to be celebrated in theaters were now used against him as Edward Carson, once his friend, led a brutal cross-examination that weaponized Wilde’s writings. Mapping this location marks a moment when art collided with law, and a public execution of a persona too bold for the society.
Photo: "The Old Bailey" by It's No Game is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Annotations: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jan/24/oscar-wilde-old-bailey-libel-tr…
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