Othering - In Search of Britain Flashcards
When does the British Empire reach its peak?
After the Treaty of Versailles, gained a lot of land from Germany
What happens to the nature of empire and the way it is imagined in the 20s 30s?
It shifts
What form of entertainment was really popular in the 20s 30s?
Cinema
What types of films were the most popular in 1920s 1930s cinema?
Colonial films
Films are not just for escapism, what do they carry?
Messages about political events
Why were 1920s 1930s colonial film viewers easily convinced by the depictions they saw?
Do not know a lot about other cultures, have little preconcieved notions
Where did most people in the 20s 30s get their impressions of the colonies from?
Film
Why did documentaries about colonies receive censorship in the period?
There was recognition that films can challenge/form opinions of the Empire, had the capacity to disrupt Britain’s control
Pre war Britain had a selfish relationship with the colonies, taking what they could and giving little back. What changed about this post war?
The modern Empire was refashioned and there was a move towards development and trying to civilise the cultures under Britain’s control and into modernity
If Britain previously had an exploitative relationship with its colonies, what did it try to suggest it had with them in the 20s 30s?
A supportive relationship
What did Britain begin to call the Empire?
The imperial family
Why was the move to a supportive relationship with colonies so important in 20s 30s?
Post war there was a desire for peacekeeping, fear of one country getting too much power (germany), also the colonies were loyal in the war
Why were ideas of the British Empire as paternal partnerships so comforting?
Britain still seemed strong after the war
What did the Great Depression put great strain on?
Britain trying to maintain its imperial status, Britain’s economy was already damaged by the war
What did Britain try to do to overcome its economic struggles after the Great Depression and war damages?
Embraced imperial trade links
What was Britain specifically trying to differentiate its empire from?
The expansionist ideas of Germany and Italy, especially in 1935
What is ironic about the portrayal of Britain as a domestic, paternal father to its colonies?
The Empire was maintained by huge amounts of violence to surpress colonial self-determination
What is the wife in The Drums a model of?
The ideal of Empire, she is caring and nurturing
Why did colonial films often feature actors blacked up and not real colonial people?
They did not trust colonials with acting roles
Why is Zabu so important in the Drums?
He is a famous actor and was undoubtedly the selling point of the film
What is the plot of Sanders of the River?
White officer Colonel Sanders in Nigeria, has all the tribes under his control, Sanders leaves to try to get married and the whole area descends into chaos. He then comes back and restores calm and order again.
What stereotypical role does Colonel Sanders play? A figure that has been reconceptualised during the war?
A hero or father figure to the Africans
Why did actor Paul Robeson divorce Sanders of the River after he saw the final version?
He was upset about the portrayal of the Africans, it was supposed to be a more realistic portrayal but instead makes the Africans seem stupid and easy to control
Why did Sanders of the River include lots of singing scenes?
To make the most of Robeson’s voice as he is a famous singer and actor