Everyday Imperialism: The Landscape of Empire, London, 1870-1939

dc.contributor.advisorMichie, Helenaen_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberDoody, Terrence A.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberSanders, Paulaen_US
dc.creatorFrancis, Pamelaen_US
dc.date.accessioned2014-08-26T21:20:39Zen_US
dc.date.available2014-08-26T21:20:39Zen_US
dc.date.created2013-12en_US
dc.date.issued2013-12-05en_US
dc.date.submittedDecember 2013en_US
dc.date.updated2014-08-26T21:20:39Zen_US
dc.description.abstractWhile many historians of the British Empire have dismissed the presence of imperial motifs and themes in Britain in the early twentieth century, this dissertation identifies and analyzes two discourses of Empire that shaped the material and cultural landscape of London during that period. Chapter one establishes several contexts relating to this period, including New Imperialism, as outlined by Disraeli and later, Joseph Chamberlain. As Disraeli?s New Imperialism evolved, it incorporated the national efficiency movement as a way to make the Empire modern and relevant while maintaining traditional social and political hierarchies, resulting in a cultural milieu of ?conservative modernity.? While uncovering these ideas in the imperial spectacle of the first four decades of the twentieth century, I employ aspects of critical human geography to demonstrate how those ideas inscribed themselves onto the urban landscape of London. Chapter two describes three royal Jubilees in terms of imperial spectacle. These events reflect an imperial ethos built on the concept of the Empire as modern, prosperous, healthy, and tasked by Providence with a civilizing mission. Once identified, I introduce seemingly opposite ways of talking about the Empire: discourses of exceptionalism, and discourses of degeneration and decline. I explain that these discourses manifest themselves in numerous cultural practices as well as official programs and policies that are then reflected in the urban landscape. A description of the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley in 1924-1925 focuses on public and private responses to the dominant narrative of empire. Chapters three and four investigate exceptionalism and decline and provide examples of ?official? responses to these themes, as in the institution of new bureaucracies, such as the Ministry of Health, as well as from ?below,? as in the celebration of Empire Day. A close look at both formal and informal responses to these discourses of exceptionalism proves that patriotic imperialism was very much a part of the cultural and material landscape of London until 1939, when German bombs erased the landscape of empire, clearing the ground for the construction of a new landscape of nation.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.citationFrancis, Pamela. "Everyday Imperialism: The Landscape of Empire, London, 1870-1939." (2013) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/76724">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/76724</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/76724en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectEmpireen_US
dc.subjectBritish Empireen_US
dc.subjectLandscapeen_US
dc.subjectDegenerationen_US
dc.subjectExceptionalismen_US
dc.subjectTwentieth centuryen_US
dc.subjectGreat Britainen_US
dc.titleEveryday Imperialism: The Landscape of Empire, London, 1870-1939en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentEnglishen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineHumanitiesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US
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