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Building An Image: Japanese Influence On The Perception Of Western Countries, A Study Of The 1904 St. Louis World’S Fair, Andrea M. Fowler

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

In this thesis, I argue that the Japanese government has utilized art and artistic expression to influence the perception that Western countries had of its nation and culture. This phenomenon is examined through a case study of Japanese participation at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, and the exhibits that they presented. These exhibits are examined utilizing both reception and post-colonial theory, and then applying these theories to primary source material from the 1904 World’s Fair. These materials include guidebooks and photographs from both the United States and Japanese authors, to showcase differences between how the East and West interpreted …