"England expects..." and all that : the visual memory of Horatio Lord Nelson
Date
2008
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
The project of this thesis has been to examine the results of the development of the reputation and concept of the historical figure of Horatio Nelson as symbol of masculinity from nearly the beginning of the myth-making and mythologizing in the nineteenth century to the present. There have been several studies recently that examine Nelson the myth, Nelson as legend, Nelson as hero: they study the process of the development of this character. As a result of the mythologizing the history of Horatio Nelson is likely lost. However the memory of Nelson – a very different thing and the focus of this thesis – has been reinforced through commemoration throughout the two centuries since his death coming to a logical conclusion in 2008. This was done in both the public sphere (in the form of monuments) and in the private sphere (Nelson was merchandised) with the logical result in the first part of the twenty-first century being a manifestation of Nelson in fan culture on the internet. He has now been essentialised, extrapolated, and used in a wide variety of ways to navigate masculinity by both genders.
Description
Keywords
masculinity, popular visual culture, Lord Nelson, British masculinity, memory, lieux de memoire, sites of memory, British national identity, British identity, nineteenth-century popular culture, popular culture, fan culture, fandom
Citation
Degree
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Department
Art and Art History
Program
Art and Art History