Flagwaving in the footlights : reflections of imperialism and class in the music-halls and musical theatres of Late-Victorian Britain
Date
1997
Authors
Doner, Susan Elizabeth
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Abstract
The late nineteenth century in Britain has often been referred to as the age of new imperialism, for the aggressive territorial expansion and defense that began roughly in the l 870s marked an entirely new era in British imperial policy. From the Russo-Turkish war to the contest for the control of Africa by European powers and the Boer War, Britain as a nation became immersed in imperial policy and imperial awareness. As imperial participation became an increasingly important matter for the government and politicians, imperial themes came to be an increasingly important staple in terms of the leisure of British citizens. From advertising slogans to literature for all ages, messages that sold not only a product but also a belief in Britain's international might were everywhere. Perhaps the most vibrant forum for the staging of topical imperial themes, however, was the music-hall. The music-hall as an institution was also in its heyday from 1870 to 1900, and has often been criticized for fomenting jingoism. In turn, jingoism by its modem definition has largely been linked to the working classes who were supposed to have comprised the music-hall audiences. In fact, not only was the music-hall audience cross-class in basis, but the topical refrains of the refined musical theatre of Gilbert and Sullivan ensured that imperial themes were not limited to the bawdiness of music-hall or to the lower classes. While the nuance and subtlety of a Gilbert and Sullivan production might not have been a feature in the material of the music-halls, both of these contemporary types of theatre recognized that in the topicality of Empire lay good entertainment. By integrating the study of imperial themes and class composition of audiences in both music-hall and musical theatre in the late Victorian period, this thesis broadens our understanding of the historical debate centring on Victorian imperialism and the issue of class.