Ornamentalism (Magill’s Literary Annual 1991-2005)
At a glance:
- Author: David Cannadine
- First Published: 2001
- Type of Work: History
- Time of Work: 1850-1950
- Setting: The British Empire
- Genres: Nonfiction, History
- Subjects: 1950’s, Africa or Africans, Twentieth century, Nineteenth century, 1940’s, 1910’s, 1920’s, 1930’s, India or East Indian people, Ireland or Irish people, Middle East, Imperialism, Great Britain, 1900’s
- Locales: British Empire
Of the unity of the British Empire during the period 1850-1950, Cannadine says, “[T]his remarkable transoceanic construct of substance and sentiment is imperialism as ornamentalism,” and ornamentalism is “hierarchy made visible, immanent and actual . . . with ample available plumage for showing it and for showing off.” Readers will find the “plumage” best illustrated in a photograph of the Prince of Wales wearing an Indian headdress in Banff, Alberta, in 1919, and the corpulence of Sir Robert Menzies fully clad in absurd regalia is certainly visible and immanent.
...[The entire page is 1984 words long]
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