British Culture - User contributions [en]

Charleston

2012-01-15T18:28:06Z

KathaKo:

== '''History''' ==

The Charleston was probably named after Charleston, South Carolina. The dance was mentioned as early as 1903, but it was not until 1922, when it was used in the Broadway musical Liza .It became a national phenomenon through "The Charleston,", a song by James P. Johnson, which was performed in the Broadway musical Runnin' Wild in 1923.

== '''Dance''' ==

The dance is a fast fox-trot which is characterized by 2 twists on each foot , swinging arms and a side kick. The arms are flailed and fort while the feet remain in place. The movement centers around the knees who are knocked together. The weight shifts from one leg to another.
The Charleston can be performed solo, with a partner or in a group.

== '''Fashion''' ==

The Charleston created a new style which was marked by an androgynous look.
Females started to adapt this boyish look. The style became known as the garconne.
Females traded their corsets for shorter, lighter garments. Instead of heavy, dark stockings, flesh colored were worn.
Further women started to use more make up . They used fake eye lashes or started to use nail polish.
The hair style changed as well. Women started to wear short hear. The bob , the shingle or the Eton Crop became fashionable. Moreover women started to dye their hair.

The Charleston generated discourse on gender, race, class and aesthetic values.
It was often done as an exhibition dance and used to express liberation.
It violated spatial boundaries of regular dances and because of the absence of the steps it was considered to be improvisational.
Although critics claimed it was highly sexual, dancers claimed it focused on the arms and legs only and drew the attention away from the body.

sources

"Charleston." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 09 Jan. 2012.

Johnson.Thomas H.''The Oxford Companion to American History''.New York : Oxford Up,1966.

Kellner.Bruce. ''The Harlem Renaissance. A Historical Dictionary for the Era''.Westport : Greenwood Press,1984.

Kennedy.Michael.''The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music''.Oxford : Oxford UP,1996.

Knowles.Mark. ''The Wicked Waltz and Other Scandalous Dances.The Outrage at Couples Dancing in the 19th and Early-20th Centuries''. Jefferson, NC:McFarland,2009.

Charleston

2012-01-09T11:07:03Z

KathaKo: Created page with 'Charleston'

Charleston

Boer war

2011-12-07T16:36:57Z

KathaKo:

== '''1880-1881''' ==

The Boers, who were Dutch-origin South African farmers, fought against the British forces . They were determined to gain the independence of the Transvaal . The Battle at Majuba on 1881 was the turning point. The Boers won against the British and conquered the Transvaal and Orange Free State.
British confidence and troop morale was shaken. Nobody believed that the formerly poor farmers could increase their influence.

== '''1899-1902''' ==

Before the second Boer War, the Boers gained wealth and prosperity. Their influence, except their political influence, kept on increasing.
The second Boer War was sparked off after the Jameson raid. The British forces tried to overthrow the government of Paul Kruger, the leader of the Boers. Britain even feared that the Boers might become too powerful and feared for their supremacy. In 1886, the Witwatersrand goldfield was discovered. The discovery led to many conflicts because there were many complaints that the “uitlander” were treated inappropriate. Britain did not ease the conflict. After an ultimatum has been issued on October 10th 1899, the Boers went into war with Britain. The as neutral considered Basutoland was attacked by the Boers at 3 fronts. The British forces launched a counter-attack, which failed. The Boers annexed more territories. At the beginning of the war ,it looked like the Boers were wining again. Britain reacted and in May 1900 more forces were deployed to South Africa. Step by step the formerly lost territory was reconquered. The Boers moved against the British forces in Natal and the Cape area but were cut off. Kruger, the leader of the Boers, fled the country. The territories went back under British command. Due to the severe losses on the Boer ground, the war strategy was changed to a guerilla warfare. Farm houses, herds and farmland were burned down by the Boer supporters. The war came to an end in May 1902, when the Boer's last rebellion failed and they finally surrendered. The Treaty of Vereening was signed on May 31st 1902 and stated that the Boers and their territories were annexed to the British Empire.
After the war,the British were not only criticised for their severe losses of the territories but for putting non-combatants into concentration camps as well.

'''Sources'''

Arnold-Baker. Charles. ''The Companion to British History''. Kent : Longcross Press,1996.

Cannon, John (ed.). ''A Dictionary of British History''. Oxford :Oxford UP, 2001.

Boer war

2011-12-07T16:25:07Z

KathaKo:

== '''1880-1881''' ==

The Boers, who were Dutch-origin South African farmers, fought against the British forces . They were determined to gain the independence of the Transvaal . The Battle at Majuba on 1881 was the turning point. The Boers won against the British and conquered the Transvaal and Orange Free State.
British confidence and troop morale was shaken. Nobody believed that the formerly poor farmers could increase their influence.

== '''1899-1902''' ==

Before the second Boer War, the Boers gained wealth and prosperity. Their influence, except their political influence, kept on increasing.
The second Boer War was sparked off after the Jameson raid. The British forces tried to overthrow the government of Paul Kruger, the leader of the Boers. Britain even feared that the Boers might become too powerful and feared for their supremacy. In 1886, the Witwatersrand goldfield was discovered. The discovery led to many conflicts because there were many complaints that the “uitlander” were treated inappropriate. Britain did not ease the conflict. After an ultimatum has been issued on October 10th 1899, the Boers went into war with Britain. The as neutral considered Basutoland was attacked by the Boers at 3 fronts. The British forces launched a counter-attack, which failed. The Boers annexed more territories. At the beginning of the war ,it looked like the Boers were wining again. Britain reacted and in May 1900 more forces were deployed to South Africa. Step by step the formerly lost territory was reconquered. The Boers moved against the British forces in Natal and the Cape area but were cut off. Kruger, the leader of the Boers, fled the country. The territories went back under British command. Due to the severe losses on the Boer ground, the war strategy was changed to a guerilla warfare. Farm houses, herds and farmland were burned down by the Boer supporters. The war came to an end in May 1902, when the Boer's last rebellion failed and they finally surrendered. The Treaty of Vereening was signed on May 31st 1902 and stated that the Boers and their territories were annexed to the British Empire.
After the war,the British were not only criticised for their severe losses of the territories but for putting non-combatants into concentration camps as well.

'''Sources'''

Arnold-Baker. Charles. ''The Companion to British History''. Kent : Longcross Press,1996.
Cannon, Jon. ''A Dictionary of British History''. Oxford :Oxford UP, 2001.

Boer war

2011-12-06T07:06:25Z

KathaKo: Created page with 'Boer War 1880–1881'

Boer War 1880–1881