Historical contexts & Literature - Essay Example

The Role Art Played in the Colonial Project Larry Barras Historical Contexts & Literature LIB 316  Prof. Stiene 20 May The Role Art Played in the Colonial ProjectMany literary works in the 21st century have provided a rather impressive notion regarding different natural phenomena. One of the phenomena that is subject to the evolving world and has been present since time immemorial is that of human behavior. Human beings in very many different contexts have expressed human behavior and one of these is through paintings.

Many people in the contemporary world do not appreciate the lengths to which artists go to portray various characteristics. However, it is important to understand and appreciate the works of art relayed in both the 21st century and previous years (Jan 2008). One of the acclaimed pieces of art is The Secret of England’s Greatness done in 1963 and it is important to breakdown the various aspects that it brings out regarding the colonial period.The painting is one that was done in the colonial period and this brings out a rather vivid picture of what illustrations the painter had.

The painting brings out the fact that the Africans were rather submissive to the British colonizers in that period from the fact they did not have a choice. If the visual aspect presented in the middle was reversed and the queen was to bow in front of the chief, this would have showed the willingness of the Africans to get oppressed by the British. It thus becomes a rather great deal for Victorians to imagine the switching of positions in the painting (Vahn & Bahm, 2011). The painting shows a man kneeling down in front of a woman, symbolism for a chief and the Queen of England respectively.

This shows the vast amount of power that the queen had over the male dominants of Africa at the time. It is important to note that this was not only the case in Africa but also at her native land the United Kingdom. Men were known as strong and wise but the fact that the queen was the head of Royalty leaves a lot to explain. The reason for the undermined masculinity is from the fact that age-old traditions in the United Kingdom offer the female aspect of royalty a lot of credit from the time that the first King died leaving the wife the throne.

This led to the rise of the Queen position and thus the continued respect to the throne with every heir (Bernard, 2007).In the painting, masculinity is rather given a downside approach. This is from the manner in which the Queen takes all the attention in the painting showing her rather classy position in the colonial period (Jones, 2008). With the contemporary world and the history that men have, it is common expectations that the husband of the Queen should have received all the attention during the colonial period and a similar representation offered in the painting.

However, with the development of the British Royal Family, the husband does not have much of a role to play (John, 2011). As witnessed in the painting, he is undermined by just being given the comfort of standing next to his wife, the queen, and looking on as she receives pleasurable treatment. Literary readings have showed the various forms in which colonizers and the victims related. The painting does a rather concise job of bringing this out as oppression being one of the major aspects is portrayed clearly.

Readings show that Africans had to suffer a lot in the hands of these colonizers and from the manner in which the painting was done, the submission and the poor African attire, this is well presented.ReferencesJan, M. (2008). Pictured at Work: Employment in Art (1800-1900). Immigrants and Minorities, 21(3), 154-163.Bernard, P. (2007). What Did They Know of Empire? History Today, 54(10), 42-48.John, M. (2011). The Victorian Vision. History Today, 63(12), 4.Van T., & Bahm, E. (2011). Historical Contexts and Literature.

San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.Jones, B. (2008). Primary Sources. Women in World History. Retrieved on 21st May from http://chnm.gmu.edu/wwh/p/126.html