Images of Empire: ANALYSIS

Consider color, line, space, shape, texture, focal point, and thematic relationships.

• What elements denote “alterity” in a written text?
• What elements denote “alterity” in a visual text?
• How does this change over time?
• How does this change from place to place?
• How does this change in relation to the political and ideological forces at play?

Consider your intellectual and emotional reactions, original audience reaction, creator’s intention.

• What story is being told by the image?
• Who benefits from the perpetuation of that story and how?
• Who suffers for the perpetuation of that story and how?
• Can you discern an evolution of narrative across images?
• How has that narrative informed contemporary perception and reality?

Consider history, geography, and your course texts.

• 17th century: How do ideals of conquest and discovery impact perception of alterity?
• 18th century: How does global trade impact perception of alterity?
• 19th century: How do capitalism, consumer culture, and the ideal of leisure impact perceptions of alterity?