Dec 2, 2008

Ornamentalism | Ornamentalism

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.

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Ornamentalism | Ornamentalism

At a glance:

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