ABSTRACT

This essay examines the differences between American and British modernity around the turn of the twentieth century. The author argues that American modernity tended to paradoxically embrace what was considered premodern, while British modernity sought to more clearly dichotomize what was perceived as rural primitivity and civil British modernity. To elucidate these ideological differences, theories of modernity and antimodernity are addressed in tandem with close textual analyses of early film reenactments of the South African War (1899–1902). While British film reenactments of the South African War tended to reify British imperialism, American films were often ideologically ambivalent, thus providing more of an opportunity for American exhibitors and audiences to contemplate and discern British imperialism for themselves. This study also explores theoretical questions related to reenactment and simulated reality, specifically how British filmmakers, unlike American filmmakers, constructed a clear distinction between civility and primitivity as real.

摘要

本文探讨了二十世纪初美国和英国现代性之间的差异。作者认为，美国现代性倾向于矛盾地接受被认为是前现代性的东西，而英国现代性则试图更明确地将被认为是乡村原始性和英国公民现代性的东西分开。为了阐明这些意识形态差异，现代性和反现代性理论与对南非战争（1899-1902）的早期电影重演的密切文本分析相结合。英国电影重演南非战争倾向于具体化英帝国主义，而美国电影在意识形态上往往是矛盾的，从而为美国放映商和观众提供了更多的机会来亲自思考和辨别英帝国主义。