scholarly journals Celebrations at European Courts as Viewed by “Sarmatian” Travellers

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Filip Wolański
Keyword(s):  
Eighteenth Century ◽  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Court Culture ◽  
Communication Research ◽  
Symbolic Communication ◽  
European Court ◽  
Imperial Court ◽  
Social Elites ◽  
Royal Courts ◽  
Stereotypical Image

This article considers the way inhabitants of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth perceived European court ceremonies as reflected in their travel notes. More particularly, the author analyses texts of the eighteenth century, where the ceremonies described are treated as some of the most important elements of symbolic communication between the authorities and society. Eighteenth-century travelogues provide a comprehensive idea of contacts with royal courts and social elites (political but also cultural and even academic), which does not comply with the stereotypical image of such situations. Starting with the late seventeenth century, court culture mostly relied on French models, which is why the article presents ceremonies at the court of Versailles described by travellers from the nobility, clergy, and from a woman’s perspective. The author also describes ceremonies and etiquette of the imperial court in Vienna, as well as the very specific ceremonial of the Roman court. The latter was characterised by the participation of the Pope. The analysis relies on intercultural communication research methods.

‘To Mount or Not to Mount?’

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nandita Sahai
Keyword(s):  
Eighteenth Century ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
The State ◽  
Record Keeping ◽  
Royal Courts

This chapter examines documentary culture in eighteenth-century Rajasthan through an exploration of the legal archive—the Sanad Parwana Bahis—of the kingdom of Jodhpur. More particularly, it studies the petitions that were written in the course of a series of protracted disputes during which the ceremonial and ritual claims made by low-caste Sunars were contested by upper castes. The increasing importance of the written record in the administration and courts both caused, and was an outcome of a nascent “literate mentality” that existed even amongst those social groups like the Sunars who were not traditionally associated with scribal work. What is particularly telling is the shift from oral testimonies to written evidence as verifiable and authentic, both in the royal courts and in lower assemblies like caste councils. The pervasive culture of record keeping, and the significance of writing both for the state and its subjects at this time allows us to interrogate any easy bifurcation between the modern and the premodern.

scholarly journals Hofrituelen en koloniale recuperatie van de Oostendse Compagnie in 18de -eeuws Bengalen en China

1970 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 119-137
Author(s):  
Wim De Winter
Keyword(s):  
Eighteenth Century ◽  
Visual Culture ◽  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Conditions Of Possibility

This article forms a critique on the formation ofa colonial historiography concerning theinteractions of the maritime 'Ostend Company' (GIC) in eighteenth century China andIndia. This historiography has ignored aspects of intercultural communication, whichprovided the conditions of possibility for any further interaction and exchange. The conceptualinfluence of colonialism on this discourse, and its recuperation of the OstendCompany's interactions in Bengal, are traced through its manifestations in historiographyas well as popular visual culture. This is contrasted with a source-based approach whichsheds new light on vital issues of courtly communication as a learning process involvingspecific acts and symbols.

Ballroom Dances of the Late Eighteenth Century

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric McKee
Keyword(s):  
Eighteenth Century ◽  
Classic Period ◽  
Diverse Group ◽  
Late Eighteenth Century ◽  
Imperial Court ◽  
Late Eighteenth

Dance topics represent the largest and most pervasive category of late eighteenth-century topics. This chapter examines ballroom dances current in Vienna during the last quarter of the eighteenth century. The repertoire is largely drawn from theRedoutentänzethat Mozart composed for the imperial court balls held during Carnival season during the last three years of his life (1788–91). This rich and diverse group of works includes the most popular ballroom dances of the Classic period: minuets, contredanses,Deutsche, andLändler. I have two objectives. The first is to provide an account of the prototypical features of each dance’s choreography and music and the correlations found between the two; the second is to introduce some cultural, social, and expressive meanings associated with these dances.

Power and Pleasure

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugh M. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Silver Plate ◽  
Record Keeping ◽  
Symbolic Communication ◽  
Sexual Activities ◽  
Royal Courts ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Court Life

Power and Pleasure reconstructs life at the court of King John and explores how his court produced both pleasure and soft power. Much work exists on royal courts of the late medieval and early modern periods, but the jump in record keeping under John allows a detailed reconstruction of court life for an earlier period. Following an introductory chapter, Chapter 2 covers hunting and falconry. Material culture forms the subject of Chapter 3, with an emphasis on luxuries such as fine textiles and gold and silver plate. Chapter 4 explores aspects of court life for which less information survives, among them art and music, games and gambling, chivalry and marshal splendour, and sexual activities, including King John’s sometimes coercive pursuit of noblewomen. Chapter 5 concerns religious life at court and a deeply unsuccessful effort to project an image of sacral kingship. Food and feasting are the subjects of Chapter 6. Chapter 7 covers royal castles and other residences, the landscapes in which the court spent time, and ceremonial activities during the court’s rapid itineration around King John’s lands. Power and pleasure are discussed throughout the book, but Chapter 8 focuses on the former, analysing various forms of symbolic communication, gift exchange, and the interaction between new forms of bureaucracy and older forms of soft power. The chapter also addresses why John received so little political benefit from his magnificent court. Chapter 9 compares John’s court to others of his own time and those of previous and subsequent centuries.

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