Eric Lasko

Date of Award

2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Harvey, David

Area of Concentration

History

Abstract

In contrast to Bernard Porter’s view, the late Victorian and Edwardian periods of British history were among those where imperial imagery and sentiment permeated popular culture to the largest degree. From theatre, to literature, to music, the idea of the empire was practically omnipresent in the culture of the time. Broadly speaking, the goal of this imagery was to educate the masses on the apparent goodness and splendor of the British Empire. This period saw new emerging forms of culture such as story magazines for young boys(boys’ papers), the music hall, and imperial exhibitions. This thesis will examine these three elements of Victorian and Edwardian British popular culture in order to demonstrate the usage of spectacle to make culture a vector of imperialist sentiments. Additionally, the motivations, origins and significance of imperialist sentiment in these works will be interrogated in order to provide a more wholistic view of why these forms of popular culture mattered. This furthers the goal of explaining how their messaging reflected broader trends in the exposure to imperialist sentiment for Britons in this period.

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