Colonial Spectacles: The Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies at the World Exhibitions, 1880–1931

Dutch colonial presentations at the world exhibitions between 1880 and 1931 helped to legitimise the Dutch imperialist project. They also highlighted the issue of Dutch identity and the Netherlands' place in the world.

The Netherlands showed off its colonies by erecting models of schools, factories, bridges, railways exhibits, which were meant to give proof of the good works of modern colonial administration and enterprise. Alongside these displays were exhibits illustrating the lifestyle and culture of indigenous people, including not only displays of ethnographic objects, but also life-size temples and villages inhabited by Javanese and Sumatrans brought to Europe specifically for these expositions. These colonial spectacles provided an "outer" world that gave an "immediacy" to visitors to the exhibition.

Colonial Spectacles shows that relations between East and West (or the West and its colonies) involved a continuous reconceptualisation of both the 'other' and the 'self'. Dutch representations of colonial culture provide an image of metropolitan culture that reveals the pride and anxieties of the Dutch at home. The book is well written and a pleasure to read.

Hardcover

Book condition: Near Fine. Light general wear to covers. Internally very clean

Dust jacket condition: No Jacket as issued

Author: Marieke Bloembergen

Dimensions: 16 x 23.5 cm

Print length: 478 pages

Language: English

Publication date: 2006

Publishers: NUS Publishing

ISBN: 9972693305