This highly original book asks new questions about paintings and prints associated with the British West Indies between 1700 and 1840; when the trade in sugar and slaves was most active and profitable. In a wide-ranging study of scientific illustrations; scenes of daily life; caricatures; and landscape imagery; Kay Dian Kriz analyzes the visual culture of refinement that accompanied the brutal process by which African slaves transformed “rude†sugar cane into pure white crystals.In these works refinement is usually associated with the metropole; and “rudeness†with the colonies. Many artists capitalized on those characteristics of rudeness—animality; sensuality; and savagery—that increasingly became associated with all the island inhabitants. Yet other artists produced works that offered the possibility of colonial refinement; not just economic profit and sexual pleasure; thus complicating perceptions of difference between the two sides of the Atlantic.
#195085 in Books 2006-12-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.72 x .68 x 5.80l; .74 #File Name: 0300119828256 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Concise; clear; and provocativeBy krebsmanIn THE SPANISH INQUISITION; Joseph Perez takes on a subject that lived several hundred controversial years; and puts its story into a very readable 225-page book that is at once succinct and comprehensive. One of my biggest obstacles to the study of Medieval and Renaissance history is that I am not a Catholic and don’t have much knowledge or interest in the inner workings of the Church. That was not a problem for me with this book. I understand now that the Spanish Inquisition was not the same thing as the regular Medieval Inquisition. The main difference was that it was controlled by the Crown (and answerable to the King; rather than the Pope); who was not above using a religious court for worldly political and monetary ends; although it was instituted to maintain the purity and ubiquity of the Catholic faith. Perez tells the story of the Spanish Inquisition in a straightforward and seemingly objective manner; which I greatly appreciated. He manages to go into detail on the executions and (rare) tortures without being sensational or grisly. It seems to me that above all; the Inquisition was an institution of intimidation. If you were accused; you were probably not going to escape. The so-called trials were conducted in such a way that the accused had no opportunity to defend himself adequately.This book was very enlightening on several levels. Like the best of history writing; it leads the reader to examine his current environment and see parallels with history. Is Political Correctness today’s version of The Inquisition? (Enforced by the media; it operates outside the law and under “zero tolerance†policies; is answerable to no one.)My only objection to the book; and it is minor; is that the translator translates the proper names of the Spanish and Portuguese rulers into English; so King Pedro is now King Peter and King Juan is now King John. I recently read ISABELLA THE WARRIOR QUEEN; which used the Spanish names; so I had to check between the two books on a couple of occasions to see if the same person was being discussed.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A bit too biased with minimizing some atrocities; but ...By Rebecca HopperA bit too biased with minimizing some atrocities; but then it is focused on the Iberian peninsula and not so much the emoire. Same with Kamen's work.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. History in perfect wordsBy CustomerA very nice powerful book; not easy to read;
