Tara Hughes - Development of schadenfreude/guilty pleasures idea

The idea of a zoetrope of contemporary scandal focuses purely on imagery, so I want to explore the influence of language present in the text and print of popular newspapers and magazines.
My proposal is to collect daily, 1 tabloid, 1 broadsheet and 1 trashy celeb magazine (weekly) and cut out any instance of scandal/mockery/humiliation written purely for the readers pleasure – a Schadenfreudian pleasure. The writer John Portmann suggested 4 reasons for this feeling; Comedy ,Commitments to justice, Low self-esteem/ego boost and Malice.
Each comment, headline, article or image would then be archived within a book or newspaper format with details of the source, date page numbers etc.

In keeping with the initial idea of using a traditional Victorian moving image device to comment on the change in social entertainment, I want to construct an unassuming setting of a corner of a Victorian living room containing;
- A chest of drawers which would hold all the cut-outs categorised according to Portmann’s criteria.
- On top of the chest, a zoetrope with a perforated book of optional strips to slip in and watch.
- Beside, the archive book (perhaps in the form of a Victorian book).

So… from the outset, the scene would appear to contain innocent, traditional entertainment pieces but on closer inspection contemporary scandals/events would unfold.
The remaining sheets from the cut-outs would be displayed as wallpaper/hangings within the set.

To bring the project round full-circle, and also to look at the issue of temptation, I would like viewers to the show to have the opportunity to participate by taking a ‘guilty pleasure’ snippet from the drawers (perhaps held in small, glass jars), finding out where it came from in the archive book and then take the original printed sheet from the wall to gain the whole picture and context.

Finally, (if it worked) all that would be left is the collection of texts and perhaps a logbook detailing how the information and imagery made people feel (according to Pormann’s criteria).
If everything had been taken, would it be true to accuse the media of encouraging Schadenfreude or perhaps we just can’t resist the natural temptation to witness another’s downfall?!

Any feedback appreciated