| Cultural Identities and the Aesthetics of Britishness Contributor(s): Thompson, Andrew (Editor), Arnold, Dana (Editor), MacKenzie, John M. (Editor) |
|
 |
ISBN: 0719067693 ISBN-13: 9780719067693 Publisher: Manchester University Press OUR PRICE: $28.45 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: April 2004 Annotation: This book examines British imperial, colonial and postcolonial national identities within their political and social contexts. By considering the export, adoption and creation of such cultural identities, these essays show how nationhood and nationalism are self-consciously defined tools designed to focus and inspire loyalty. The contributors present these ideas with particular reference to English cultural identity and its interaction with the "Empire." They examine the national, imperial and colonial aesthetic--how architecture, landscape, painting, sculpture and literature were used, appropriated and re-appropriated in the furtherance of social and political agendas, and how this impacted on the making of "Britishness" in all its complexities. It is demonstrated that not only did the dominant aesthetic culture reinforce the dominant political and social ideology, it also re-presented and re-constructed the notion of British national identity. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Social Science | Anthropology - Cultural & Social - History | Europe - Great Britain - General - Social Science | Popular Culture |
| Dewey: 305.800 |
| LCCN: 2003064880 |
| Series: Studies in Imperialism (Paperback) |
| Physical Information: 0.49" H x 6.26" W x 9.2" (0.77 lbs) 205 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - British Isles |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Considers how notions of Britishness were constructed and promoted through architecture, landscape, painting, sculpture and literature. Maps important moments in the self-conscious evolution of the idea of 'nation' against a broad cultural historical framework. An important addition to the field of postcolonial studies as it looks at how British identity creation affected those living in England - most study in this area has thus far focused on the effect of such identity creation upon the colonial subject. Broad appeal due to wide subject matter covered. Examines just how 'constructed' a national identity is - past and present. |
