Description
This course will explore the visual culture of the international exhibitions that flourished during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Starting with the first large-scale event of this kind, the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London, a series of fairs provided a place on the global stage for nations to promote themselves and celebrate advancements in technology, science, art, and trade. At the same time, such exhibitions were also sites of popular amusement and tourism. We will examine iconic structures built for these events, such as the Crystal Palace, the White City, the first Ferris wheel, and the Eiffel Tower. We will discuss what world’s fairs can teach us about national identity, Imperialism, and the modern era. We will also consider how elements of world’s fairs continue today in different formats, such as theme parks and Olympic Games opening ceremonies.