How were the people of the French colonies maltreated for entertainment purposes from the 19th to 20th century, and how has this memory continued to influence the cultural narrative of France today?

 

Background to Research Question

This project presents an investigation into the dark side of human nature illustrated by examples from French history.  The research looks at the differences that exist in regard to human categorization through racial groups and specifically at how the French exploited people that were thought to be exotic and used them as entertainment. I plan to use case studies that highlight historical moments from the 19h to 20th century proving this derogatory treatment of native colonials.  I will then make inferences from this research to how it has shaped the cultural narrative specifically in the entertainment in France today using relevant theories.

Introduction (800 words)

  • Intro to the essay question
  • Brief history of French colonialism and Civilizing mission (Edward b Taylor 1871)
  • Explain freak shows/ human entertainment (how the French bought back to France black people for entertainment purposes because they could not civilise them)
  • What is meant by cultural narrative?
  • Why is it relevant to remember these historical events today? There is clearly a discrimination issue in France. In a climate of increasing polarization and increasing use of ‘otherness’ it is perhaps time to remember where this came from.

Literature Review (2000 words)

  • Give a historical overview of cases where France used black people for entertainment. Such as the Colonial expositions in Paris/ human Zoos- Jardin d’Acclimatation
  • How France crafted and imposed an identity of “otherness” “beauty” and “superiority” (Edward Said)
  • Explain and relate “The invention of the savage” and “exoticism” relating it to France
  • Introduce the value system that seem to be in play at certain point of history–

          Introduce Schwartz value types (the values people had at the time and how people values have now changed (Power and distance)) to analyse contemporary attitudes.

Also include stereotypes theory

Edward Taylor 1871 (savagery, through barbarism to civilization.)

Methodology (2200 words) 2 arguments.

Argument against:

  • it does not influence French cultural narrative (1 or 2 facts, articles, essays, apologies.

Argument for:

  • It does continue to shape the cultural narrative of France today?

Discussion (1000 words)

  • Discuss the meaning and importance of the results, showing how they relate to the research question. show how people have evolved through time using all the theories review and has this changed the cultural narrative in France today?
  • Conclusion (600 words)
  • Reach a conclusion that shows the precise conditions that lead to the maltreatment of human zoos and how that has affected their treatment in the entertainment industry.

Theories to Use:

  • Edward Said ORIENTALISM
  • Edward Said OTHERING
  • Schwartz value types
  • Exoticism
  • Also include stereotypes
  • bias theories
  • Edward b Taylor 1871 ( Taylor maintained that all societies passed through three basic stages of development: from savagery, through barbarism to civilization)

Case studies to use:

  • Montaigne’s essay “Des Cannibales”
  • ‘the invention of the savage’
  • Musée d’Orsay exhibited Hottentot Venus
  • “exhibit B” Play on human zoos

Bibliography

Abbattista, G., 2014. Humans on Display: Reflecting on National Identity and the Enduring Practice of Living Human Exhibitions. Trieste: EUT Edizioni Università di Trieste.

Abbattista, G., 2015. Beyond the human zoos: exoticism, ethnic exhibitions and the power of the gaze.. [Online]
Available at: https://www.academia.edu/14548475/Beyond_the_Human_Zoos_._Exoticism_Ethnic_Exhibitions_and_the_Power_of_the_Gaze_in_Ricerche_storiche_XLV_1-2_gennaio-agosto_2015_pp._207-218

De Montaigne, M., Fassin , D. & de Pernon, G., 2013. Des cannibales. Paris: Universitaires de France.

Dervin, F., 2016. Discourses of Othering. In: Interculturality in Education. 1-9 ed. London : Palgrave Pivot.

Forsdick, C., 2003. Revisiting exoticism : from colonialism to postcolonialism. London: Arnold.

Holmes , R., 2016. The Hottentot Venus: The life and death of Saartjie Baartman: born 1789- buried 2002.. London : Bloomsbury Publishing.

Imbruglia, G., 2014. The Invention of Savage Society: Amerindian Religion and Society in Acosta’s Anthropological Theology. s.l.:s.n.

Pascal, B., Thuram, L. & Snoep, N. J., 2011. Exhibitions: l’invention du sauvage. Paris: Coédition Musée du quai Branly.

Sánchez-Gómez, L. A., 2013. Human Zoos or Ethnic Shows? Essence and contingency in Living Ethnological Exhibitons. Madrid : Facultad de Geografía e Historia, Universidad Complutens.

Said , E. W., 1979.. Orientalism. United States: Pantheon Books.

I need to find what I consider to be expressing’s of a racist narrative, especially to the cultural narrative that subordinate people of colour. In terms of the entertainment industry, I could argue that they still get the kind of roles where they are laughed at or get the roles that are subject and not the agent, they’re not directors or casting directors. Very much in front of the camera not behind it, they lack power and they’re still being mocked.

Focus more on how black people are still maltreated in the entertainment industry.

What conditions lead to advent of human zoos?

  • This idea of civilising cultures
  • The idea of othering by Said
  • France has this idea of Égalité, Liberaté et Egalite, which is a huge pervasive attitude within French culture. It’s very contradictory and the reason for that was because at this point of time black people were considered inhuman. As animals. And there was also science that back it up, where they said Black people’s skulls resembled more one of a monkey than a human. This might be interesting to mention in “what conditions lead to human zoos’” as Black people were basically diagnosed as animals
  • There was a value system at play by Schwartz.

This are the conditions that lead to this happening today.

Possible other Tittles.

In what ways did the freak shows and human zoos of the 19th and 20th century impose French colonial rule.

What conditions lead to the advent of human zoos in the 19th and 20th century and does their memory continue to shape the cultural narrative of France today?

In the lite review explain how they did it. By othering people, they did it in this way by exoticizing people, and contrast it to how it’s still being done today. And what are the effects to the current modern day?

What conditions lead to advent of human zoos?

  • This idea of civilising cultures
  • The idea of othering by Said
  • France has this idea of Égalité, Liberaté et Egalite, which is a huge pervasive attitude within French culture. It’s very contradictory and the reason for that was because at this point of time black people were considered inhuman. As animals. And there was also science that back it up, where they said Black people’s skulls resembled more one of a monkey than a human. This might be interesting to mention in “what conditions lead to human zoos’” as Black people were basically diagnosed as animals
  • There was a value system at play by Schwartz

make reference to these two study cases when arguing that it DOES CONTINUE TO SHAPE THE CULTURAL NARRATIVE:

  • Montaigne’s essay “Des Cannibales” – (Otherness)
  • Human zoos- discuss making reference to the ‘the invention of the savage’ and ‘orientalism’

while it could be argued that because a prolonged system of oppression, of which the human Zoo is an example, the lived realities of Africans in France today continues to be symptomatic of oppression, however, this essay will just focus in the entertainment industry and  as how give a conclusion of how the people of the French colonies were maltreated for entertainment purposes from the 19th to 20th century, and how has this memory continued to influence the cultural narrative of France today.