Panoramas and Compilations in Nineteenth-Century Britain: Seeing the Big Picture

In nineteenth-century Britain, writers, artists, journalists, and impresarios used two competing conceptual models of overview: the panorama and the compilation, which were intertwined, relevant across the century, and often remediated. This book argues for a new politics of distance that recognizes the value of immersing oneself in a situation but also does not chastise us for trying to see the big picture. It is essential reading for students and scholars of nineteenth-century literature, history, visual culture, and information studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 275 pages
Publication date: 07 January 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

In the 19th century, Britain grappled with the rapidly industrializing and urbanizing modern world, prompting writers, artists, journalists, and impresarios to seek a comprehensive understanding of contemporary history. They employed two distinct conceptual models to achieve this: the panorama and the compilation. While both models aimed to provide a holistic view of the present moment, they approached the task in vastly different ways. This book reveals that panoramas, reminiscent of the Romantic era's 360° views, and compilations, associated with the Victorian era's data-driven projects, are interconnected, relevant throughout the century, and frequently remediated. By bringing together interdisciplinary research materials from various historical periods, the book offers fresh insights into how 19th-century audiences navigated the overwhelming abundance of information. It advocates for a new politics of distance, recognizing the value of immersing oneself in a particular situation or event while also encouraging us to maintain a broader perspective. This book is a valuable resource for students and scholars of 19th-century literature, history, visual culture, and information studies, shedding light on the complex ways in which individuals and societies processed and interpreted the rapidly changing world around them.

In the 19th century, Britain grappled with the rapidly industrializing and urbanizing modern world, prompting writers, artists, journalists, and impresarios to seek a comprehensive understanding of contemporary history. They employed two distinct conceptual models to achieve this: the panorama and the compilation. While both models aimed to provide a holistic view of the present moment, they approached the task in vastly different ways. This book reveals that panoramas, reminiscent of the Romantic era's 360° views, and compilations, associated with the Victorian era's data-driven projects, are interconnected, relevant throughout the century, and frequently remediated. By bringing together interdisciplinary research materials from various historical periods, the book offers fresh insights into how 19th-century audiences navigated the overwhelming abundance of information. It advocates for a new politics of distance, recognizing the value of immersing oneself in a particular situation or event while also encouraging us to maintain a broader perspective. This book is a valuable resource for students and scholars of 19th-century literature, history, visual culture, and information studies, shedding light on the complex ways in which individuals and societies processed and interpreted the rapidly changing world around them.

Weight: 503g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031156830
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022