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An important propaganda function in forming group unity. In the case of national unity, it seems to have been most effectively implemented by various Chinese d
by gumby 3y ago
An important propaganda function in forming group unity.
In the case of national unity, it seems to have been most effectively implemented by various Chinese dynasties (in fits and starts, of course) and France under Louis XIII and Louis XIV. Famously it was seriously pursued, but luckily not especially effectively, by the Nazi regime.
The case that amuses me most is famous to English speakers, is of course cited in the Wikipedia article: the emergence of a blended "British" culture in the reign of Victoria: Tartans being the most famous, but also national anthems, brides in white, today's formal fashion (suits, military dress uniforms, and the like) and so on. What amuses me most is the ad-hoc nature (so consistent with how the british developed an empire) and especially how widely it spread: North Korean military uniforms look like 19th century upper class dress and Japanese weddings remind one of Victoria's.
- ed_westin 3y agoAs is the modern invention of ancient white marble statues: https://www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/videos/2022/7/spotlight-caligula-brinkmanns https://www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/videos/2022/7/spotlig...
- MichaelZuo 3y agoI don't think this is true for genuine, dug up from the ground, ancient greek and roman statues. Replicas are a different story. You can clearly see leftover pigments, grains of dirt, and various other undertones when you look closely at any museum with these statues. They clearly are nowhere near a pure white colour, without any exception that I've seen.
- ed_westin 3y agoPurity can play an outsized part for some identities and moral worldviews. The truth is messier than myth.
- MichaelZuo 3y agoBut that's the point, anyone who bothered to pay close attention wouldn't have believed in the purity myth in the first place. Of course those folks who don't care enough to pay attention might believe in such a myth, but why try to convince folks that don't care?
- smegsicle 3y agonb 'modern' here meaning 15th century