Edges of Empire

Mexico:

Scene at Bullfight

Photo taken by F.M. White, Old Mexico, Mexico City ca. 1897

The photo from F.M. White’s collection, Old Mexico, depicts a bullfight in Mexico City around 1897. At this time period imperialism was still prominent throughout the world as the British Empire controlled territory in North America, Africa, Asia, and Oceana. Although the Spanish colonies in South America had gained political independence from the crown, their customs and influence remained. The picture from F.M. White is evidence that the new Mexican Republic adopted practices such as bullfighting directly from the Spanish. Bullfighting is a tradition that has been a part of Spanish culture for centuries. In 1726 Francisco Romero introduced the sword and cape to the fight, creating the attention-drawing spectacle that remains today. Each fight lasts about 15 minutes and six bulls are killed by three matadors. Today, the largest bullfighting ring is located in the Plaza México in central Mexico City, seating up to 48,000 people. It is evident that Spanish colonization in South America had a direct impact on the region’s society and customs in the future.

India:

Orderlies of Foreign Officers

Photo taken by Lala Deen Dayal, Bengal Nagpur Ralroad and views of India, ca. 1875-1889

The following picture shows a group of Indian military officers posing for a photograph. The artist, Lala Deen Dayal is considered one of the best colonial photographers of India. He had been issued a royal warrant as photographer to the Queen Victoria to document this exotic region. This print illustrates the British attire worn by Indian military officers. An interesting observation is that all of the officers are dressed in British military clothing and weapons while also wearing traditional Indian headdresses. These soldiers not only fought for the British army, but the question arises as to the extent that the “properness” of one’s attire can define rank and power. The photographer perfectly demonstrates the assimilation and appropriation of native society and heritage by the colonizer.

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This photo was created by Ramos, Manuel in 1913. It belongs to the collection of Mexico: Photographs, Manuscripts, and Imprints from DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University. It was believed a photo illustrated Mexico Revolution in 1910-1920, a scene outside National Palace during the outbreaks. The corps on the photo were humans and horses. The clam and cold of the corps on the plaza before the city house reflected the cruelty and wildness of the outbreak. The death presented the weakness of humanity.

This photo was created by Johnson, William around 1855 in India. It was a part of Photographs of Western India, and the series of Photographs of Western India. Volume I. Costumes and Characters, belonged to the collection of Europe, Asia, and Australia: Photographs, Manuscripts, and Imprints from DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University. The title of the photograph is Knife Grinders. The two Indian people sitting on the side of a custom made machine with a stripe for providing rolling force as the kid and the elder holding a knife on the edge of a plate stone for sharping or grinding. Both were not wearing clothes, very thin which indicated low nutrient diet, and unhappy faces.

In this image one can immediately see three Mexican male workers. They are dressed in breathable casual clothes, their outfits show the status in which they are categorized in society. Noticing how hunched all the men are I can conclude the barrels they are carrying must be heavy. The heaviness on their backs shows a bigger picture of how their class in society is being exploited to do more work than necessary. Being a staged photo can signify how the photographer is trying to depict Mexican labor workers as overworked. Overall I feel this photograph describes the struggles faced by the low class society in Mexico.

This image shows eight Indian males. Each one is wearing a wrap around their heads in order to keep heat away. Everyone is dressed in white outfits, but I noticed all of them have knee length skirts on. They seem to be picking cotton and putting it in a basket. None of them are communicating towards each other making me suspect that there is a time frame in which they have to finish their work. Lastly I can notice that all the men seem very tired and ready for the day to be over. This makes me question why some of them are resting while the others are working.

Picture #1: Dead outside Mexico City

http://digitalcollections.smu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/mex/id/102

The picture from first glance looks very sobering, an empty square around what appears to be a town hall or some major government building. The square however, is littered with human bodies and even a horse carcass. The bodies are dressed in vests and hats which appear to be people who could have been revolting or protesting. The interesting portion of this photograph is firstly that the bodies are left in the street. This is a classic attempt to show dominance and instill fear in the public.

Picture #2: Bengal Nagpur Railroad Construction

http://digitalcollections.smu.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/eaa/id/1506/rec/17

This picture takes in what seems to be rural India, the lush landscape of trees and hills has been slashed down and excavated due to the construction of a new railroad. The vast landscape is filled with lines of people all traveling along these narrow dirt roads. In this picture, despite being small, one can still see tools in these half dressed natives. This picture shows the horrible working conditions that the native workers are subjected to.

British colonization in India lead to many infrastructure projects throughout the continent, including the perilous task of building the railroads.  As seen in Bengal-Nagpur Railway Construction image, native Indian’s were often the main source of labor for constructing the railroads.  The men are seen to clearly be constructing a tunnel into a mountain with minimum equipment and support for the tunnel.  These jobs were often extremely dangerous and lead to the death of many workers, so why would the British continue building these railroads?   The railroads meant control of the entire Indian continent and could generate enormous economic gains for the British.  Despite the dangerous work the British employed disposable native labor for their own self-interests, while native Indians perished.

Post-colonial rule was a reign of terror for many of the native citizens of Mexico as seen displayed in the gruesome image.  Two children are seen hanging from a tree for an unknown crime if any, while a soldier stands by posing.  What did these children do to deserve such an unfortunate fate? The brutal punishment displays the power which the government ruled over the people.  Power was asserted through sheer violence and fear, which validated the authority of the ruling officials; just as the soldier stands tall and confident next to his ill-fated victims.  The postcard even claims that this is a “familiar scene in Mexico” at the time of the revolution, confirming the frequently cruel treatment of the Mexico citizens.

“Ruined Temple of Ambernath near Callian” by William Johnson (ca. 1855-1862)

“Rancheria en Tierra Caliente” by Abel Briquet (ca. 1875-1899)

Surely when Abel Briquet stumbled upon the village in Rancheria en Tierra Caliente, he must have felt as if he was stepping back in time. The villagers gazing back must have wondered what business he had in such a remote location. Such a juxtaposition of technology and tradition gives the image its value. In it, the horizon is not visible but lies beneath the thick foliage, conveying the isolation that is necessary for such a scene. The main focus is the large, straw hut which possibly served as a communal hub. Women and children are littered throughout the scene; some aware the photo was being taken, some oblivious to the fact. Strung up clothes are a further reminder of the simpler times that were captured here. It beckons the viewer to question why, in the presence of modern technology, do these people choose to remain living where and how they do? Perhaps this is what Briquet sought when he took the photo; to see those people caught in between times. This tells us that whatever their reasons for staying, the viewer can deduce that they must be genuine.

The questions evoked from Rancheria en Tierra Caliente are answered in William Johnson’s Ruined Temple of Ambernath near Callian. In it, the indigenous people that once inhabited this strikingly detailed temple have been cast out. By who or what is unclear through the photograph, but the presence of a camera tells us that the danger has passed. Similarly to the previous photo, the horizon cannot be seen, evoking the same claustrophobic feelings. The main focus is, of course, the temple. It emanates fairytale-like dilapidated beauty, reminding us all that mother earth wins out in the end. Two people occupy the front steps of temple, indicating that its discovery was a triumph of pure exploration. While the inhabitants of Rancheria en Tierra Caliente symbolize those trapped in between times, the abandoned temple in Ruined Temple of Ambernath shows us the common outcome of colonized people. Whatever their reasons for leaving, we know that it is no longer their home in any sense of the word. Perhaps it would only be a matter of time before the villagers in Rancheria shared the same fate. In this way, the two photos could be seen as a “before” and “after” photo of the effects of colonialism, as well as a testament to its universality.

In the photo, Man Standing by Waterfall in the Woods, photographed by an unknown individual, one sees a native man standing in the middle of flooded timber with a waterfall in the background. His pants are rolled up just high enough so they do not get wet, he is gripping two trees, and is posing for the photograph. This demonstrates his level of comfort with the area. One can infer that the native knows this land well due to his level of comfort in the area, the secluded nature of the area, and the lack of other people in the photo. One can also infer that this man wanted to get away from the commotion of the city and enjoy the peace and quiet nature has to offer. The question this image raises is where is the location of this secluded area in comparison to the colonized city? Furthermore, is he sharing this private location with another native or a Spaniard?

In the photo, Indian Soldiers, photographed by Lala Deen Dayal, one sees a group of nineteen Indian soldiers waiting in front of a wall. Every one of these men are dressed in the same uniform in an organized fashion. The systematized nature of the men combined with their proximity to one another implies that they are a close-knit group who has been together for an extended period of time. The men appear as though they are about to go off and fight; their facial expressions look both determined and somewhat anxious. One man is standing in front of the group looking off in the distance with a contemplative facial expression. Through him standing in front of these men, it is possible that he is the captain of the squadron. This photograph brings to mind two questions: what motivated these men to fight and are what are they fighting for?

Author: Cruces y Campa

Date: 1875

Area: Mexico City

The focus of this picture is a street vendor in Mexico City. The photo was taken around 1875 in Independent Mexico. The man is obviously of the lower class based on his lack of shoes and job as a wooden bowl merchant. He seems to be struggling to move with the large group of bowls on his back and is heavily leaning on his walking stick. A question that arises while looking at this picture is where is he going? It is possible that he is walking to the market to begin selling for the day or maybe he just walked around while selling bowls. The purpose of this photo was to most likely put the lower-class in the spotlight so that people can see the reality of the way they live instead of the many pictures taken of the wealthy in the New World. It may have also been used to classify a type of peoples. By 1875 Mexico was a free and independent country, but the problems of race and class did not end with the downfall of the Spanish. Class structures and treatment of minorities was still an issue. He had to carry all of the wooden bowls on his back probably an impressive distance and set up to sell them to provide. Overall the picture was an attempt to shed light on the many poor and exploited natives in Mexico who lived a harsh life, rather than taking a portrait picture of someone from the upper class.