DOCSLIB.ORG

Haile Selassie and Hirohito on Tour

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Haile Selassie and Hirohito on Tour Portland State University PDXScholar Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses 1-1-2011 Emperors in America: Haile Selassie and Hirohito on Tour Robert Alexander Findlay Portland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Findlay, Robert Alexander, "Emperors in America: Haile Selassie and Hirohito on Tour" (2011). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 96. https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.96 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible: [email protected]. Emperors in America: Haile Selassie and Hirohito on Tour by Robert Alexander Findlay A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History Thesis Committee: Kenneth J. Ruoff, Chair James Grehan Jennifer Tappan Hillary Jenks Portland State University ©2011 i The imperial visits to the United States by Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia in 1954 and Emperor Hirohito of Japan in 1975, while billed as unofficial by all parties involved, demonstrated the problematic nature of America’s unstable Cold War political agendas, connected African and Asian Americans with alternative sources of race, nationality, and ethnic pride, and created spaces for the emperors to reinforce domestic policies while advancing their nations on the world stage. Just as America’s civil and governmental forces came together during the imperial tours, in 1954 and 1975 respectively, to strongly promote Cold War ideological narratives to a global audience, African American and Japanese American racial and ethnic groups within the United States created their own interpretations of the tours. Likewise, the governments and imperial institutions of Ethiopia and Japan both appropriated American efforts in an attempt to renegotiate political relationships and produce imperial narratives for domestic consumption. However, fundamental contradictions arose during these tours as both Ethiopia and Japan simultaneously sought to embrace America and to expand their presence on the world stage. The full nature of the political, economic, and social ramifications of these two imperial visits, and the contradictions in American’s Cold War policies revealed by the tours, has yet to be explored. Reactions to the emperors’ tours demonstrated the connections and conflicts between race, nation, and identity. Further the narratives of Ethiopia’s and Japan’s role on the world stage, particularly during these “unofficial” imperial tours, have yet to be fully examined by historians. Only by examining the emperors’ tours within a broader transnational context, taking multiple political, racial, ii and economic perspectives into account, can the consequences of these visits be fully observed and understood. iii Acknowledgements In the course of researching and writing this thesis, I had the good fortune of working with numerous people whose wisdom and generosity helped shape this work. As my thesis advisor, Kenneth J. Ruoff was particularly gracious with his time and energies. He continuously encouraged me to push for a bigger picture grounded in issues of local and personal importance. Likewise Hillary Jenks and Jennifer Tappan contributed many hours to helping me mold my ideas into strings of words that could be made sense of by others. Brian M. Hayashi of Kyoto University also helped focus my work and encouraged a deeper analysis of the material. At Portland State University, James Grehan, Linda Walton, Tim Garrison, and Thomas Luckett contributed to my overall education challenging me to challenge myself. I am thankful for the wonderful library staff at Portland State University as well as the helpful staff at Central Washington University and the President Gerald R Ford Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Joseph Ho, whose expertise at photographing documents allowed me to access material otherwise inaccessible, was also a great help. Several organizations must be acknowledged for their assistance in funding both my education and opportunities to present aspects of this work in broader forums. My graduate fellowship position at Portland State University allowed me to actively research and write my thesis full time while Phi Alpha Theta and The East-West Center at the University of Hawaii allowed me to present my ideas at conferences before audiences of my peers. iv Thanks to my friends- Robert Hegwood, Kathryn Cleland, and Jaqueline Woolcott who not only repeatedly read and edited my work, but also encouraged me with their own academic gifts, great senses of humor, and occasional reality checks. Likewise my family- Mike and Abbey were always in my mind. My parents- Kate, Richard, and Carla deserve special recognition for their encouragement, outlook, and love. And, finally, my deepest gratitude goes to Laurel, who patiently waited for me to finish working. v Table of Contents Abstract………………………………………………………………………………….i Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………….……iii Chapter 1 Introduction…………………………………………………………….……………….1 Chapter 2 Official or Not Here They Come…………….………………………………………….9 Chapter 3 Desegregation, The African American Press, and Haile Selassie’s Tour………….…..35 Chapter 4 Hirohito and Japanese America’s “Secret Pride”……………………………………...62 Chapter 5 Remaking Their Emperors……………………………………………………………..90 Chapter 6 Conclusions…………………………………………………………………………...116 Works Cited…………………………………………………………………………………..120 1 Chapter 1: Introduction The imperial visits to the United States by Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia in 1954 and Emperor Hirohito of Japan in 1975 share many commonalities. Both emperors stayed in Blair house in Washington D.C., laid wreathes at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and visited the United Nations headquarters in New York. They stayed at the same hotels, received keys to the same cities, and met with famous actors and politicians. They both even got to spend a day exploring Disneyland. But beyond their exciting itineraries, both imperial tours demonstrated America’s Cold War policy agendas, connected African and Asian Americans with alternative sources of ethnic pride, and created spaces for the emperors to reinforce domestic policies while advancing their nations on the world stage. In the immediate post-World War II years, Ethiopia spearheaded decolonization in Africa. Haile Selassie's government took the lead in the movement for collective security by joining the United Nations as a founding member, dedicating thousands of troops to the U.N. efforts in the Korean War, and working to organize a broad array of African nationalists. As the longtime “torch bearer of independence for Africans on the continent and in the diaspora” and the first nation liberated from Axis aggression during World War II, Ethiopia held a special place in the imagination of African nationalists and civil rights leaders.1 Likewise, during the first half of the 20th century, America was seen in the 1Getachew Metaferia, Ethiopia and the United States: History, Diplomacy, and Analysis (New York: Algora Publishing, 2009), 3. 2 Ethiopian imagination as the “counter balance to Europeans” and their colonial ambitions in Africa.2 The declining power of imperialist nations in the post-war world, coupled with America's promises to make good on the policies and ideals of the newly formed United Nations based in New York, contributed to a belief in Ethiopia, and in all of Africa, that the United States would help lead the continent towards a brighter future. Haile Selassie's tour of America signaled a new era in U.S.-African relations. Although plans for Haile Selassie's American tour did not materialize until 1953, the U.S. began crafting its relationship with the independent African nation before the end of World War II. The postwar relationship between the U.S. and Ethiopia began in 1943 during a series of secret exchanges conducted by American and Ethiopian diplomats. America planned to encourage Ethiopian sovereignty with a series of Lend-Lease agreements designed to defend the nation from European influence. This plan was only revealed after President Roosevelt, returning from the 1943 Yalta conference, met with Haile Selassie and other Arab leaders in the Suez Canal.3 Roosevelt knew that America had the opportunity to increase its presence in the Red Sea if Ethiopia remained independent of European colonial rule.4 The British had already made many efforts to claim de facto colonization of Ethiopia as World War II was concluding, and attempted to fold the area into a larger territorial administration run out of Nairobi, a known “center of colonial [power] and 2 Metaferia, 18-19. 3 Statements of John Spencer, former foreign policy adviser to Emperor Haile Selassie, at the Hearings Before the Subcommittee on African Affairs of the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, Ninety-fourth Congress, Second Session, 4-6 August 1976, records page 21. 4 Spencer, 21-23. 3 white-settler rule.”5 Neither America nor Ethiopia intended to see British authority increased in the Horn of Africa and Haile Selassie's tour was in part designed to emphasize America's intentions to keep Ethiopia under its wing and independent from any form of outside imperialism. As U.S. policy makers planned to prevent (re)colonization in East Africa, they simultaneously planned for the occupation of Japan
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Emperor Hirohito (1)” of the Ron Nessen Papers at the Gerald R
    The original documents are located in Box 27, folder “State Visits - Emperor Hirohito (1)” of the Ron Nessen Papers at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Ron Nessen donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Digitized from Box 27 of The Ron Nessen Papers at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN ~ . .,1. THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN A Profile On the Occasion of The Visit by The Emperor and Empress to the United States September 30th to October 13th, 1975 by Edwin 0. Reischauer The Emperor and Empress of japan on a quiet stroll in the gardens of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Few events in the long history of international relations carry the significance of the first visit to the United States of the Em­ peror and Empress of Japan. Only once before has the reigning Emperor of Japan ventured forth from his beautiful island realm to travel abroad. On that occasion, his visit to a number of Euro­ pean countries resulted in an immediate strengthening of the bonds linking Japan and Europe.
    [Show full text]
  • Hofstede's Masculinity
    Keio Communication Review No. 27, 2005 Hofstede’s Masculinity/ Femininity Dimension and the Pregnancy of Princess Masako: An Analysis of Japanese and International Newspaper Coverage by Tomoko KANAYAMA Anne COOPER-CHEN* Introduction In the world’s most masculine society (Hofstede, 2001), a baby girl is shaking Japan’s very foundations. On December 5, 2001, Princess Masako gave birth to her first child–a daughter, Aiko. All Japanese celebrated the happy news that, after eight years of marriage, the future emperor and empress of Japan at last had a child. The media unanimously reported it as a nation’s brightest news event of the year. Masako’s pregnancy garnered attention not only from the Japanese media, but also from foreign media, partly because of issues surrounding the succession of the world’s oldest monarchy system, which is rooted in Shinto religion. Moreover, Japan needed some good news–a bright spot in the social malaise caused by a long economic recession. In addition to these reasons, Masako herself attracts media as perhaps the most popular female public figure or celebrity in Japan. Ever since Masako, who was a commoner but a brilliant, successful former diplomat, became a member of the world’s most traditional monarchy, Japanese people have expected her to open up the royal family and promote gender equality in Japanese society. News Coverage of the Imperial Family in Japan All matters related to the imperial family are taken charge of by the Imperial Household Agency. In Japan, each governmental administration has its own press club, called a “kisha club,” in which only members of each club can get official information and resources relevant to matters of the administration.
    [Show full text]
  • Mother of the Nation: Femininity, Modernity, and Class in the Image of Empress Teimei
    Mother of the Nation: Femininity, Modernity, and Class in the Image of Empress Teimei By ©2016 Alison Miller Submitted to the graduate degree program in the History of Art and the Graduate Faculty of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. ________________________________ Chairperson Dr. Maki Kaneko ________________________________ Dr. Sherry Fowler ________________________________ Dr. David Cateforis ________________________________ Dr. John Pultz ________________________________ Dr. Akiko Takeyama Date Defended: April 15, 2016 The Dissertation Committee for Alison Miller certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: Mother of the Nation: Femininity, Modernity, and Class in the Image of Empress Teimei ________________________________ Chairperson Dr. Maki Kaneko Date approved: April 15, 2016 ii Abstract This dissertation examines the political significance of the image of the Japanese Empress Teimei (1884-1951) with a focus on issues of gender and class. During the first three decades of the twentieth century, Japanese society underwent significant changes in a short amount of time. After the intense modernizations of the late nineteenth century, the start of the twentieth century witnessed an increase in overseas militarism, turbulent domestic politics, an evolving middle class, and the expansion of roles for women to play outside the home. As such, the early decades of the twentieth century in Japan were a crucial period for the formation of modern ideas about femininity and womanhood. Before, during, and after the rule of her husband Emperor Taishō (1879-1926; r. 1912-1926), Empress Teimei held a highly public role, and was frequently seen in a variety of visual media.
    [Show full text]
  • Interview with J.D. Bindenagel
    Library of Congress Interview with J.D. Bindenagel The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project AMBASSADOR J.D. BINDENAGEL Interviewed by: Charles Stuart Kennedy Initial interview date: February 3, 1998 Copyright 2002 ADST Q: Today is February 3, 1998. The interview is with J.D. Bindenagel. This is being done on behalf of The Association for Diplomatic Studies. I am Charles Stuart Kennedy. J.D. and I are old friends. We are going to include your biographic sketch that you included at the beginning, which is really quite full and it will be very useful. I have a couple of questions to begin. While you were in high school, what was your interest in foreign affairs per se? I know you were talking politics with Mr. Frank Humphrey, Senator Hubert Humphrey's brother, at the Humphrey Drugstore in Huron, South Dakota, and all that, but how about foreign affairs? BINDENAGEL: I grew up in Huron, South Dakota and foreign affairs in South Dakota really focused on our home town politician Senator and Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey. Frank, Hubert Humphrey's brother, was our connection to Washington, DC, and the center of American politics. We followed Hubert's every move as Senator and Vice President; he of course was very active in foreign policy, and the issues that concerned South Dakota's farmers were important to us. Most of farmers' interests were in their wheat sales, and when we discussed what was happening with wheat you always had to talk about the Russians, who were buying South Dakota wheat.
    [Show full text]
  • Interpreting Sanctions in Africa and Southeast Asia
    IRE0010.1177/0047117815600934Hellquist<italic>International Relations</italic>International Relations 600934research-article2015 CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by Institutional Repository of the Freie Universität Berlin Article International Relations 2015, Vol. 29(3) 319 –333 Interpreting sanctions in © The Author(s) 2015 Reprints and permissions: Africa and Southeast Asia sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0047117815600934 ire.sagepub.com Elin Hellquist Free University of Berlin and Stockholm University Abstract The Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were both born to stabilise vulnerable state borders by practising non-interference in domestic affairs. Today, the OAU’s successor, the African Union (AU), uses sanctions against unconstitutional changes of government, while ASEAN continues to rule out any collective punitive action against members. To explain these divergent trajectories, this article first shows how different traditions produced different ways of engaging with sanctions in the early formative cases of South Africa and Vietnam. Thereafter, it examines how these traditions were selectively re-thought when confronted with the dilemmas of international sanctions against Libya and Myanmar. The interpretive approach enables a nuanced account of continuity and change in beliefs about sanctions. The AU’s sanctions doctrine has updated rather than broken with a traditional interpretation of non-interference. For ASEAN, the longstanding tradition of informality – and not strict adherence to non-interference – has continued to rule out regional sanctions. Keywords African Union, ASEAN, comparative regionalism, non-interference, Organization of African Unity, sanctions Regional cooperation in Africa and Southeast Asia began with a similar aim: to protect the sovereignty of vulnerable postcolonial states.
    [Show full text]
  • Japanese Monarchy: Past and Present Ben-Ami Shillony, Louis
    Japanese Monarchy: Past and Present Ben-Ami Shillony, Louis Frieberg Chair in East Asian Studies, Hebrew University of Jerusalem Will an empress save the Japanese monarchy? p.1 Antony Best, London School of Economics A royal alliance: Anglo-Japanese Court Relations, 1900-41 p.18 The Suntory Centre Suntory and Toyota International Centres for Economics and Related Disciplines London School of Economics and Political Science Discussion Paper Houghton Street No. IS/06/512 London WC2A 2AE November 2006 Tel: 020-7955-6699 Preface A symposium was held on 23 February 2006 in the Michio Morishima room at STICERD to discuss aspects of Japanese and British royalty. Professor Ben-Ami Shillony discussed the future succession to the Japanese throne in the light of the current debate about female succession, outlined in his recent book Enigma of the Emperors (Folkestone: Global Oriental, 2005). Dr Best analysed the changing Anglo-Japanese court relationship which had originally been underpinned by the Anglo-Japanese alliance but had become a secondary factor by the 1930s. November 2006 Abstracts Shillony: Paper examines how Japan’s imperial dynasty dependent on the male line of succession has lasted so long and analyses how it will overcome its present difficulties. An Advisory Panel was created to recommend future policy to the Koizumi cabinet but its report in 2005 was criticized. The impasse over the Panel’s report was broken by the birth of a son in September 2006 to Princess Kiko, wife of Prince Akishino. Best: Paper explains why the royal relationship with Japan became so important to Britain. During the Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902-23), relations between the two Courts were cordial.
    [Show full text]
  • AMERICAN Committee on AFRICA Steering Eommittee March
    AMERICAN COMMiTTEE ON AFRICA Steering eommittee March 26. 1963 MINUTES 1. Brief Reports a. Mason Sears: .It was reported that Mason Sears had responded with a very • cordial note indicating his acceptance of his election as a member of the National Committee. He also said that he would be willing to try to make Board meetings from time to time if this was agreeable. b. Chiume and Chipembere: It was reported that Kanyama Chiume, Minister of Education, Social Development and Information in the Nyasaland Government and Masauko Chipembere, Minister of Local Government and Treasurer-General of the Malawi Congress Party were visiting this country tmder a State Department grant. A small dinner with a few interested members of the Board is planned for March 27th. 2. Makeba Benefit: Benefit tickets for the Makeba concert at Carnegie Hall have not been going very well so far. It was suggested that a number of the Board members who had not yet been reached about contacting their friends to interest them in buying tickets for the benefit, should be called. 3. Africa Freedom Day: The Africa Freedom Day program is now pretty well arranged. The speakers include Holden Roberto, Oliver Tambo, Jarire­ tundu Kozonguizi, Kanyama Chiume and Eduardo Mondlane. It was agreed by the Board that Hope Stevens should act as Chairman for the evening and make the fund appeal on behalf of the Committee. 4. Ship picketing: George Houser reported that Hope Stevens, Collin Gonze and James Farmer had met with the President of the longshoremen's local in Brooklyn, Anthony Scotto, to discuss a demonstration against South African ships coming into harbor.
    [Show full text]
  • Tanzania-Zambia Railway: Escape Route from Neocolonial Control? Alvin W
    University of South Florida Scholar Commons Anthropology Faculty Publications Anthropology 1970 Tanzania-Zambia Railway: Escape Route from Neocolonial Control? Alvin W. Wolfe [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/ant_facpub Part of the Anthropology Commons Scholar Commons Citation Wolfe, Alvin W., "Tanzania-Zambia Railway: Escape Route from Neocolonial Control?" (1970). Anthropology Faculty Publications. 10. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/ant_facpub/10 This Book Chapter is brought to you for free and open access by the Anthropology at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Anthropology Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. f.~m NONALIGNED THIRD WORLD ANNUAL 1970 ';;~~: Books International ot DH-T~ %n~ernational St. Louis, Missouri, USA . \ ESCAPE ROUTE ALVINW. WOLFE* THE FIRST REQUISITE for African development is that African countries combine what little wealth and power they have toward the end of getting a greater share of the products of world industry. They may be able to get that greater share by forcing through better terms of trade or better terms in aid, but they will never get any greater share by continuing along present paths, whereby each weak and poor country "negotiates" separately with strong and rich developed countries and supranational emities such as the World Bank and major private companies. If they hope to break thos.e ne,ocolonial bonds, Africans must unite-
    [Show full text]
  • Ethiopian Constitution of 1931
    www.chilot.me Ethiopian Constitution of 1931 established in the reign of His Majesty Hail`eSellassi´eI 16th July 1931 Source: Margery Perham: The Government of Ethiopia, London 1969. 1 www.chilot.me Ethiopian Constitution of 1931 1 Chapter I The Ethiopian Empire and the Succession to the Throne Art. 1. The territory of Ethiopia, in its entirety, is, from one end to the other, subject to the government of His Majesty the Emperor. All the natives of Ethiopia, subjects of the empire, form together the Ethiopian Empire. Art. 2. The imperial government assures the union of the territory, of the nation and of the law of Ethiopia. Art. 3. The law determines that the imperial dignity shall remain perpetually attached to the line of His Majesty Haile Selassie I, descendant of King Sahle Selassie, whose line descends without interruption from the dynasty of Menelik I, son of King Solomon of Jerusalem and the Queen of Ethiopia, known as the Queen of Sheba. Art. 4. The throne and the crown of the empire shall be transmitted to the descendants of the Emperor pursuant to the law of the imperial house. Art. 5. By virtue of his imperial blood, as well as by the anointing which he has received, the person of the Emperor is sacred, his dignity is inviolable and his power indisputable. He is consequently entitled to all the honors due to him in accordance with tradition and the present Constitution. The law decrees that anyone so bold as to seek to injure His Majesty the Emperor will be punished.
    [Show full text]
  • House .Of Representatives W
    ,7354 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD- HOUSE May 28 the Navy, subject to qualification therefor Grant that amid the strain and stress H. R. 7328. An act to promote the national as provided by law. of life's hard and difficult experiences; defense by authorizing the construction of Harold N. Glasser (Reserve officer) to be when we are tempted to yield to defeat­ aeronautical-research facilities by the Na­ tional Advisory Committee for Aeronautics lieutenant (junior grade) in the Dental ism and despair, may we have within our Corps in the Navy, subject to qualification necessary to the effective prosecution of therefor as provided by law. hearts the unshakable confidence that aeronautical research; The following-named Reserve officers to be Thy divine providence is ever 'round H. R. 7329. An act to repeal section 1174 second lieutenants in the Marine Corps, sub­ about us. of the Revised Statutes, as amended, re­ ject to qualification therefor as provided by May the presence and message of the lating to the cooperation of medical officers law: ruler, whose small nation stood forth with line officers in superintending cooking Glen S. Aspinwall Richard L. Martin bravely as one of the calvaries of de­ by enlisted men; and H. R. 7452. An act for the relief of Therese Ralph C. Carlisle, Jr. Edwin 0. Schwendt mocracy, stir our hearts with compas­ Boehner Soisson. Edward J. A. Castagna Thomas S. Simms sion and with a yearning to lift smitten On May 28, 19!)4: Alphonse J. Ca.stellanaCharles Solomon and afflicted humanity out of its miseries H. R. 2696.
    [Show full text]
  • I Sing the Body Electric
    Cover 1 of 2 ‘Starting From Paumanok,’ from Walt Whitman’s ‘Leaves of Grass’ (1891-92) ‘Was somebody asking to see the soul? See, your own shape a nd countenance, persons, substances, beasts, the trees, the running rivers, the rocks and sands. All hold spiritual joys and afterwards loosen them; How can the real body ever die and be buried?’ Why, nearly 130 Men’s Fashion years after his death, September 20, 2020 I SING the complicated, contradictory poet Walt Whitman is THE still an essential voice of the American experiment BODY THE NEW YORK TIMES STYLE ELECTRIC MAGAZINE RIGHT NOW, SEVERAL hundred miles in this almost overly ambitious way,” said Eungie Joo, a curator at the San Francisco elements and diagrams. On one table, overhead, a golden urn with the face Museum of Modern Art and an early supporter of Strachan’s work. “Like, a photograph of two Arctic owls with of a forgotten man is circling Earth, a how could you go and train as an astronaut? That’s insane! That’s not ambition orange eyes partly covers a picture of passenger on a black satellite. “Enoch,” for anything that has been done before you — that’s just pure curiosity. That’s the Jamaican dance-hall artist Frankie one of Tavares Strachan’s most a brave curiosity. There’s no one like him in that way.” Paul, who in turn floats above a dazzling ambitious works of art, is a tribute to Sitting in one corner of Strachan’s studio was the work that serves as a skeleton telescopic view of the night sky.
    [Show full text]
  • Animality, Subjectivity, and Society in Anglo-Saxon England
    IDENTIFYING WITH THE BEAST: ANIMALITY, SUBJECTIVITY, AND SOCIETY IN ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Cornell University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of English Language and Literature by Matthew E. Spears January 2017 © 2017 Matthew E. Spears IDENTIFYING WITH THE BEAST: ANIMALITY, SUBJECTIVITY, AND SOCIETY IN ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND Matthew E. Spears, Ph.D. Cornell University, 2017 My dissertation reconsiders the formation of subjectivity in Anglo-Saxon England. It argues that the Anglo-Saxons used crossings of the human-animal divide to construct the subject and the performance of a social role. While the Anglo-Saxons defined the “human” as a form of life distinct from and superior to all other earthly creatures, they also considered most humans to be subjects-in-process, flawed, sinful beings in constant need of attention. The most exceptional humans had to be taught to interact with animals in ways that guarded the self and the community against sin, but the most loathsome acted like beasts in ways that endangered society. This blurring of the human-animal divide was therefore taxonomic, a move to naturalize human difference, elevate some members of society while excluding others from the community, and police the unruly and transgressive body. The discourse of species allowed Anglo-Saxon thinkers to depict these moves as inscribed into the workings of the natural world, ordained by the perfect design of God rather than a product of human artifice and thus fallible. “Identifying with the Beast” is informed by posthumanist theories of identity, which reject traditional notions of a unified, autonomous self and instead view subjectivity as fluid and creative, produced in the interaction of humans, animals, objects, and the environment.
    [Show full text]