Vrijwilligers en een drumband in Shanghai voor het diamanten jubileum van Victoria van het Verenigd Koninkrijk 1897

This photograph by W.R. Kahler depicts volunteers and a drum band in Shanghai, likely taken to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Consider the historical context: this image reflects the British Empire's global reach, manifested here in China. We see a performance staged in Shanghai for a British monarch, an event which highlights the complex relationship between colonizer and colonized. What does it mean to celebrate British power on Chinese soil? Whose voices are amplified, and whose are silenced? It's crucial to remember that photography itself was, and is, never neutral. It’s a medium deeply implicated in the construction of identity, and in this case, colonial power. The photograph creates an archive of this historical moment, solidifying certain narratives while overshadowing others. How might the meaning of this image shift depending on who is looking at it? Whose history is it? As we examine this image, let's reflect on its role in shaping and reflecting societal issues related to imperialism, while recognizing its complicated ties to personal and cultural identity.