UVU Victorian Literature and Politics for the Present (Fall 2020) Dashboard

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The Victorian period was one of great change for Britain. Comprised of the years of Queen Victoria’s reign (1837-1901), it featured the rapid industrialization and urbanization of Britain, and the radical expansion of the British empire. Although these changes improved the quality of life for some Victorians, many more were forced to work under inhumane conditions, live in unsanitary and insalubrious environments, or suffered the violent oppressions of colonial rule. While we may think of the Victorian period as a distant, different era, this class argues that Victorians faced some of the same issues we deal with today, including systemic racism, opioid addiction, ecological disasters, and public health crises, to name but a few. 

“Victorian Literature and Politics for the Present” revisits texts both familiar and new - canonical and not - through the lens of current events. Addressing a range of genres, this course examines historical and philosophical trends that shaped the era’s literature and were shaped by it. Specifically, it will explore how the Victorians addressed, and sometimes avoided, issues of racial oppression, class conflict, public welfare, and imperial plunder. Moreover, it will consider what parallels and throughlines we can draw between the Victorian era and the twenty-first century and contemplate the value of continuing to study Victorian authors and texts today. 

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Posted by Tessa Christensen on Monday, November 30, 2020 - 23:37

This park was established in 1980 and marks the launching pad of the women's suffrage movement beginning. The first women's rights movement convention happened here. The park contains many of the important figures in the women's movement homes, such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Jane Hunt. The park is considered hallowed ground and is where the Declaration of Sentiments was written and signed. 

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Posted by Tyler Abbott on Monday, November 30, 2020 - 22:43

Before the arrival of the East India Trading company, Dhaka (or Dacca as it was then known) was an affluent commercial city which produced some of the worlds finest muslins and textiles. Soon after the arrival of the British, much of the manpower and natural resources in and around Dahka were exploited, allowing the British to make vast profits. Over time, because of Britian's free trade system which had no export or import tariffs, local industries in Dhaka and throughout India couldn't compete with the production capabilities of British factories. British manufactures quickly drove their Indian competitors from the European markets and it wasn't long before India, once one of the largest exporters of cotton in the world, was being flooded with cotton, resulting in destabilizing economic shifts, massive unemployment, and famine. In just 13 years, between 1824 and 1837, the exports of British cotton to India went from one million yards to sixty-four million yards, while at the same...

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Posted by Claire Hunsaker on Monday, November 30, 2020 - 13:15

A British Bacteriologist named Almroth Edward Wright developed the typhoid vaccine at the Army Medical School in 1896. Many of his peers in the army were wary of his discovery, and refused to let their troops get immunized during the South African war, resulting in over 8,000 British troops dying from typhoid. Because of this, vaccinations were allowed and encouraged when the British entered the first World War. This resulted in the first war where the death from combat outnumbered deaths from typhoid. These events highlight the importance of vaccination during wars and national health emergencies. However, even after the massive improvement in soldiers' health during World War I there were still those who were anti-vaccination, and vaccinations never became compulsory for any nation's citizens. Even now we can see that this attitude towards vaccinations lives on in some groups today.

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Posted by William Green on Monday, November 30, 2020 - 12:48
Posted by Tausha Hewlett on Monday, November 30, 2020 - 04:59
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Posted by Elena Ellis on Saturday, November 28, 2020 - 16:36

The original construction began in 1708 when the then Duke of Marlborough was leased the land by Queen Anne. The house passed through several hands before the crown again took ownership in 1817 in order for Princess Charlotte to take up residence there. Several other royals lived there in the next 30 years before it became the first site of the Museum of Manufactures. However, the museum was only located at Marlborough House from May to September of 1952. Afterward, it moved up the street to Somerset House before moving again to its current location in South Kensington.

The reasons behind these moves aren't definite, but some sources say that it was because it was thought that the museum would get more patrons in Kensignton (and it did.) From 1853-1861the building was used by the National Art Training School. Later, it again became housing for many more royals including King Edward VII and Queen Victoria. In 1965, Marlborough House was leased by Queen Elizabeth II to the...

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Posted by Ann Oliver on Friday, November 27, 2020 - 22:37
Chronology Entry
Posted by Ann Oliver on Friday, November 27, 2020 - 22:32
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Posted by Cassidy Stoker on Thursday, November 26, 2020 - 17:05

From my previous COVE contribution we can see that Queen Victoria had an ardent love for her husband, Prince Albert. He passed away in 1861 and she mourned his death very publicly for forty years, until her death in 1901.When Albert died, he was buried in The Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore. Frogmore received its name from the wet property that it was built on and the Mausoleum has struggled with water damage for years but despite the damage, it is a beautiful building. A likeness of Prince Albert was carved out of granite and placed above his burial. He is portrayed in military uniform and Queen Victoria had one made for herself as well so they could have a companion piece and could be laid to rest together after her death. The Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore is closed to the public and is located less than a half mile away from Windsor Castle.

Works Cited:

Rose.Slavin. “The Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore.” The Royal Family, 29 Oct. 2018,...

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Posted by Dustin Seals on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 - 09:45

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