Staging the Balkans. Balkan Presentations at the World’s Columbian Exposition
Staging the Balkans. Balkan Presentations at the World’s Columbian Exposition

Author(s): Todor Hristov
Subject(s): Cultural Anthropology / Ethnology, Sociology of Culture
Published by: Centre for Advanced Study Sofia (CAS)
Summary/Abstract: The main objective of the research paper is to develop an analytical theory of identity, which in turn would make possible the study of identity on a textual level. Another objective is to show that Balkan identity is traumatic and current research on the topic does no more than perpetuate this trauma. And fi nally, drawing on the analytical theory of identity developed in the fi rst part of the study, the paper embarks on describing the identity games played by various actors involved in the Balkan presentations at the Chicago 1893 World’s Exposition. The current abridged version of the paper has only the humble goal of presenting the theoretical framework of the study and its general fi ndings. The presentation will go along the following lines: (1) I will try to describe the settings of the Chicago 1893 World Columbian Exhibition (which will be my object of study); (2) I will try to explain how we can study identity in the case of World Expositions; (3) I will try to give an account of the visual presentation of Bulgarian identity at the Chicago World Fair.

• Details
• Contents