In depth analysis of the controversy sparked by "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and exploration of the influence of Victorian era medical discourse on moral value judgments. The article points out that Victorians are extremely concerned about health issues, and medical discourse permeates into daily life, becoming an important criterion for distinguishing between good and bad morals. Diseases are imbued with profound moral advice and punishment, while health is seen as a measure of personal character. Wilde joked about this moral reverence for health in his works. The article combines literary works and historical materials to explore the hidden relationship between cleanliness and discipline in medical discourse from an anthropological perspective, as well as the reconstruction of the connotation of dirt by the decadent party, expanding Foucault's theory of medical discourse.

The Debate on the Issue of Dirt at the End of the Century

In the second half of the 19th century, degeneration theory became a focus of scientific and medical research, viewed as a perspective for observing internal crises in Europe. Max Nordau's book "Degradation" reflects the social impact of this theory, arguing that modern literature is a source of degradation pollution that poses a threat to public health and national destiny. Nordau criticized the growth of the readership of modern literature, likening them to people who devour dirt and inhale the smell of decay. The publication of 'Degeneration' is related to Oscar Wilde's defeat, as the decadent movement was also put on trial. After Wilde was imprisoned, the magazine "Inkigata" published a poem celebrating the end of decadence, viewing "impurity" as a manifestation of decadent illness and "bathing" as a symbol of purification.

Cleanliness and Discipline in the Perspective of Victorian Medical Discourse

In depth exploration of the connection between Victorian era medical discourse and the concept of cleanliness, as well as how these concepts intersect with social norms and power operations. Douglas proposed in "Cleanliness and Danger" that the concept of dirt is closely related to cultural taboos, and the rise of bacteriology in the 19th century linked dirt with disease. She believes that dirt is a product of classification, coexisting with the order system, which is a prerequisite for the production of dirt.

Reverse Discourse: Reconstruction of the Dirt Connotation of Decadent Party

Deeply explored how the decadent faction reconstructed the connotation of dirt through reverse discourse to resist the discipline of Victorian era medical discourse. Foucault's theory suggests that discourse can both produce and strengthen power, as well as undermine and expose it, making it fragile. The LGBTQ+community challenges pathological labels by using reverse language to speak out for themselves and demand legitimacy. The image of dirt in decadent works exposes the weakness of power and resistance to discipline by imitating dominant discourse.