Abstract

This project examines four examples of the phenomenon of world’s fairs and expositions as representations of the time periods in which they were created. Its particular focus is the officially constructed vision of each exposition, or expo, studied – Expo 58 in Brussels, Expo 67 in Montreal, Expo 2010 in Shanghai, and Expo 2015 in Milan – and the value placed on the concept of the “nation” within that vision. Toward this aim, this project presents the findings of a qualitative content analysis of the four expo’s official guidebooks and the recontextualization of this analysis’ manifest and latent themes within the histories of the Cold War Europe and Quebec as well as that of recent China. Represented in the four guidebooks is a renegotiation of the value of the “nation” from its dominance in the post-WWII era to an existence challenged by the “city” and non-national global actors in the contemporary day.

Advisor

Hettinger, Madonna

Second Advisor

Matsuzawa, Setsuko

Department

History; Sociology and Anthropology

Disciplines

History | Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies | Sociology

Keywords

Globalization, Nationalism, Belgium, Quebec, China, Italy

Publication Date

2016

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2016 Elliott H. Valentine