T O P I C S I N T H E R I S E A N D F A L L O F E M P I R E S
Language is a powerful shaping force of civilization, and each of the world’s languages is changing constantly. The way we speak has a profound effect on – and is itself profoundly affected by – other vectors of empire. Here, a master historian looks at how a “mother” tongue was ended (but not really) by powerful forces that, at first glance, seem to have
In many cases, we can see a clear link between architecture and the cycles of empire. There can be little question that the great 17th century Ottoman architect Sinan is an imperial architect, a rising-empire artist whose work seems to exist to glorify
It is easy to forget what a cultural sensation technology can produce – and perhaps no instance was greater than that of the Gatling gun.
With the 1897 publication of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the English were exposed to a terrifying Gothic novel that expressed the fears of the age: Questions of invasion, identity, and war were entangled in a dramatic story about vampires feeding on women and
A brief comparison of the work of two authors who lived almost a century apart reveals two literatures driven by a common concern with the processes and consequence of empire. A review of their lives shows that
“The Lion King” and Its Message of Social Darwinism
A Cultural Critic Sees Undertones of Fascism in the Popular Story Dan Hassler-Forest Introduction In this smart, provocative article and interview, cultural critic Dan Hassler-Forest warns us that loaded images and ideas may lurk... ...
The Heart of the Space-Based Franchise Lies in Civics Alexander Maxwell Editor’s Introduction Without some form of government, we are stuck in Thomas Hobbes’ hellish state of nature, ‘the war of all against all.’... ...
Imperialism in the “Tarzan” Franchise
Anna Kozak What the King of the Jungle Reveals About Us Editor’s Introduction What we call “Tarzan” is a sprawling collection, or mini-industry, of stories. The original Edgar Rice Burroughs adventure novel, “Tarzan... ...
Empire and Higher Education in Nnedi Okorafor’s “Binti”
Breaking Colonial Conventions, Confronting Past and Future by Amanda Lagji Editor’s Introduction “The Empire Writes Back” is a powerful concept. It is a phrase coined by Salman Rushdie in a magazine article and then... ...
We all tend to see what we want to see -- in ourselves, in our friends, in our culture, and in other cultures. In his dissertation, Jens-Uwe Guettel takes a penetrating look at how Germany viewed ...
Dracula as a Foretelling of WWI
With the 1897 publication of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the English were exposed to a terrifying Gothic novel that expressed the fears of the age: Questions of invasion, identity, and war were entangled in a dramatic story about vampires feeding on women and ...
The unintended consequences of war—both good and bad—are fascinating to my students. My cadets always engage with lesson plans on the technology that came out of World War II, for example, or the packs of wild dogs in Vietnam which are the descendants of U.S. canine corps from the late 1960’s, or the marine ...
It is easy to forget what a cultural sensation technology can produce – and perhaps no instance was greater than that of the Gatling gun. ...
Dracula as a Foretelling of WWI
Mar 11, 2011
Aug 18, 2013
What Could Lee See at Gettysburg?
Sep 20, 2013
Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife
Feb 14, 2014
