Tender - Violence -
: State how domestic imagery served as a political tool for U.S. expansion. II. The Ideology of Domesticity Explain the 19th-century "Cult of Domesticity."
The exclusion of people of color or their depiction as "un-domesticated" to justify colonial rule. V. Conclusion
If you are tasked with writing a paper on this topic, here are several potential thesis directions and structures. 🏛️ Potential Thesis Directions TENDER - Violence
: Analyze how white, middle-class women photographers—acting as "guardians of the domestic"—reinforced racial hierarchies by contrasting "heroic" white motherhood with the misrepresented or excluded lives of women of color.
Explain Wexler’s concept of the "averted eye"—the practice of looking at the domestic surface while ignoring the violent context. IV. Racial and Imperial Consequences How these images "fortified social hierarchies". : State how domestic imagery served as a
: Contrast a peaceful "domestic" image (like sailors playing with a kitten on a warship) with the reality of the Spanish-American War.
: Argue that early female photojournalists used a "domestic vision" to frame war and expansion as a peaceful, civilizing mission, effectively creating a "cover for imperial aggression". The Ideology of Domesticity Explain the 19th-century "Cult
Final thought on the lasting power of visual narratives in shaping national identity. 📚 Essential Keywords & Concepts Tender Violence - The University of North Carolina Press