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Satirising imperial anxiety in Victorian Britain: Representing Japan in Punch Magazine, 1852-1893

Matthewson, Amy

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Authors

Amy Matthewson



Abstract

Japan’s opening to global trade during the second half of the nineteenth century aroused much interest from Western nations. Attempts to understand the nation were made by classifying Japan and its people within the racial and political hierarchies known at the time, which were frequently contradictory in attitude. By focusing on the popular British satirical magazine, Punch, this paper explores the ways in which Japan was used as a satirical “other” between 1852 and 1893. The fluctuating representations reveal socio-political anxieties during a period of heightened consciousness towards ideological and geopolitical power dynamics.

Citation

Matthewson, A. (2021). Satirising imperial anxiety in Victorian Britain: Representing Japan in Punch Magazine, 1852-1893. Contemporary Japan, 33(2), 201-224. https://doi.org/10.1080/18692729.2021.1926410

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 3, 2021
Online Publication Date May 28, 2021
Publication Date May 28, 2021
Deposit Date Jan 11, 2023
Publicly Available Date Jan 11, 2023
Journal Contemporary Japan
Print ISSN 1869-2729
Electronic ISSN 1869-2737
Publisher Taylor and Francis Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 33
Issue 2
Pages 201-224
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/18692729.2021.1926410
Keywords Anglo-Japanese relations; Punch; political cartoons; satire; representation; imperialism; ideology
Publisher URL https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/18692729.2021.1926410
Additional Information Data Access Statement : Data is displayed alongside the article.

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