Cooper, Nicola (1997) French colonial discourses : the case of French Indochina 1900-1939. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This thesis focuses upon French colonial discourses at the height of the
French imperial encounter with Indochina: 1900-1939. It examines the way in
which imperial France viewed her role in Indochina, and the representations and
perceptions of Indochina which were produced and disseminated in a variety of
cultural media emanating from the metropole. Framed by political, ideological and
historical developments and debates, each chapter develops a socio-cultural
account of France's own understanding of her role in Indochina, and her
relationship with the colony during this crucial period.
The thesis asserts that although consistent, French discourses of Empire
do not present a coherent view of the nation's imperial identity or role, and that
this lack of coherence is epitomised by the Franco-indochinese relationship. The
thesis seeks to demonstrate that French perceptions of Indochina were marked
above all by a striking ambivalence, and that the metropole's view of the status of
Indochina within the Empire was often contradictory, and at times paradoxical.
Indeed, the thesis argues that Indochina was imagined through a series of
antitheses which reflect the incoherent nature of French colonial discourse during
this period.
This thesis uses as its primary material a variety of key cultural media
which informed the popular perception of Indochina during this period:
metropolitan and Franco-indochinese school manuals; the writings and designs of
French colonial urbanists; the works of influential colonial apologists; 'official'
texts relating to the organisation and impact of the Exposition coloniale of 1931;
travel journalism; and metropolitan fiction relating to Indochina. The discursive
approach that this thesis takes, focusing clearly upon the socio-cultural
dimension, should provide an important re-evaluation of French Indochina and its
legacy, and should make a contribution to the understanding of France's relations
with her colonial territories during the first half of the twentieth century.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > DC France D History General and Old World > DS Asia
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Indochina -- History -- 20th century, France -- Colonies -- Asia -- 20th century, Colonies in literature -- France
Official Date:	September 1997
Dates:	Date Event September 1997 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of French Studies
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Extent:	248 p.
Language:	eng

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