The Aesthetics of Imperialism

In his book, Edward Said discusses the aesthetics of imperialism, which he defines as “the ways in which a dominant power seeks to control and shape the perceptions of those it dominates.” He argues that the dominant power often does this by creating a “false consciousness” among the dominant, which leads them to accept and even defend the actions of the dominant power.

Said gives the example of how the British Empire sought to control the perceptions of the Indians it ruled. The British did this by creating an image of India as a “land of mystery and enchantment,” which was then used to justify their rule.

the dominant power

The British also sought to control the perceptions of the Indians by promoting a false idea of Indian history, which portrayed the Indians as a people who had always been ruled by foreigners. This false idea was used to justify the British rule of India.

Said argues that the aesthetics of imperialism are not only used to justify domination, but also to legitimize it. He gives the example of how the British used the art and literature of India to legitimize their rule. The British claimed that they were bringing civilization to the Indians and that the Indians were fortunate to be ruled by such a benevolent power.

Said concludes by arguing that the aesthetics of imperialism are still with us today. He gives the example of how the United States uses its power to control the perceptions of the people it dominates. The United States does this by creating an image of itself as a “land of opportunity,” which is then used to justify its actions.

The Elegance of Imperialism

In his book “The Elegance of Imperialism”, Simon Winchester discusses the various ways in which imperialism has been expressed throughout history. He starts with the ancient Roman Empire and then moves on to the British Empire. He discusses how each empire used art, architecture, and other forms of expression to project their power and to impress other cultures.

The Roman Empire was known for its grandiose architecture, such as the Colosseum and the Pantheon. The British Empire, on the other hand, was known for its more subtle form of expression. It relied heavily on its vast network of railways and telegraph lines to assert its dominance.

Last

Winchester argues that the British Empire was more successful in its imperial ambitions than the Roman Empire because it was able to adapt to the changing times. While the Roman Empire was ultimately destroyed by barbarian invasions, the British Empire was able to adapt and evolve into the modern world.

In conclusion, Winchester argues that the British Empire was the most successful empire in history because it was able to adapt to the changing times.