Going through the Teams, I really enjoyed watching my classmate’s virtual presentations. With our individual backgrounds, I found the presentations super interesting and diverse. Here are my thoughts on three:
George: Why and how did similar Environmental Movements Develop in the East and West of Europe in the Late Twentieth Century?
I thought your presentation was well organized and you have a clear vision for your further research. While preliminary, your argument makes sense and provides interesting answers for the similarities between environmental protests movements in the Sixties. I especially liked how you connect the globalization of society and the globalized distribution of information with protest factors, such as disillusionment with the government and notions of parenthood.
One recommendation would be to focus on specific transnational movements rather than individual nations. I feel this would connect more with your thesis as you argue for a more broad global perspective, especially with the global impacts of environmental crises, not limited by national boundaries.
Overall, great work and I can’t wait to learn more about your final paper!
Will: A Civilization’s Destruction: Examining Rapa Nui and Its Interactions with the Exterior World
Since we were partnered during our first brainstorming session, it has been wonderful to see your project progress over the course of the semester. I think you have done a great job finding sources and stitching together the story considering the narratives pervasive about ‘Easter Island’ in Western society. While I appreciate the three-section outline, I feel you are missing a consistent thread of argumentation to weave through your essay.
For example, how does this differ from other types of colonialism/indigenous interaction with the outside world? It is already well known that contact with the West often led to degradation and assimilation that destroys cultural elements and decreases indigenous populations. Is there a way to connect/compare this to other indigenous groups that were devastated by outsider contact? Is there something makes them distinct? What is the larger argument here?
I think you are definitely going in the right direction and hope you find these comments helpful!
Avery: Female Dissent in the British Empire: Understanding Ideologies of Resistance for the Double Subaltern
This is a great presentation that aims to compare hunger strikes and female agency in Ireland and India. As both felt the impact of British imperialism, this is very interesting study that integrates themes of post-colonial theory, Orientalism, feminist thought, and notions of body autonomy. I liked how you develop these ideas from your short essay and that feedback to understand connected histories of resistance.
As you mentioned in your presentation, I think it would be interesting to bring in
Expanding scope by going outside of India and Ireland, for instance to give examples of other regions affected by British colonial rule or imperialism. You can still focus on this Ireland-India comparison, but it also might be worthwhile to contrast this with non-colonial female hunger strikes, like the American suffragette movement, to highlight the aspects brought about by British imperialism or colonial oppression.
I think your topic is great, I really enjoyed watching your presentation, and I hope this feedback helps!