Imperialism, Orientalism and Patriotism in Manchester's Nineteenth-Century Visual Spectacles

Boyce, Tracey May (2025) Imperialism, Orientalism and Patriotism in Manchester's Nineteenth-Century Visual Spectacles. Doctoral thesis (PhD), Manchester Metropolitan University.

File will be available on: 20 March 2027. Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (7MB)

Abstract

This study proposes visual spectacular entertainments in the form of the Panorama (a 360-degree painting in perspective and its later variants) and the pyrodramas (fire plays at Belle Vue Zoological Gardens) as primary sites for projecting contemporary ideas of imperialism, Orientalism and patriotism to nineteenth-century audiences in Manchester. Utilising primary sources such as programmes, advertisements, autobiographies and contemporary press reviews, this study investigates how these visual presentations brought imperialism, Orientalism and patriotism to life. Notably, it highlights how the predominately working-class spectators of the Manchester pyrodramas were exposed to imperial content in a new and impactful manner. To achieve this, the study analyses the audience demographic for the Belle Vue pyrodramas to conclusively demonstrate that they were predominantly watched by the working classes. Finally, the study assesses the impact these performances had on their audiences by analysing enthusiasm and fundraising for royal visits and celebrations, thereby highlighting the extent of imperial and civic pride felt by individuals in Manchester. Drawing on diverse interdisciplinary scholarship, encompassing popular culture, theatre studies, material culture, visual culture and history, this study fills a notable gap in existing research by providing a comprehensive analysis of these visual genres within the specific context of Manchester. This study concludes that the panoramas and pyrodramas were key vehicles for disseminating imperial, Oriental and patriotic material to all strata of society. In addition, the thesis highlights that the pyrodramas were a new, visual way for the working classes to engage with such material. The study argues that these pyrodramas assisted in fostering a notion of positive national identity linked to the monarch as the figurehead of the British Empire. This was expressed through the enthusiastic working-class welcome and fundraising efforts for Queen Victoria’s visits to Manchester and her 1887 Jubilee celebrations. Therefore, this study, through a unique investigation into Manchester’s visual spectacles, reveals new insights into how its working-class citizens perceived their empire, their place within it, and their monarchy.