Shaping the Imperialist Imagination

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Step into the fascinating world of early stereographic technology and discover how these immersive images—the television of their era—shaped American attitudes toward other cultures. Shaping the Imperialist Imagination examines how these popular 3D photographs allowed Americans to “travel” globally without leaving their homes, while subtly reinforcing notions of cultural hierarchy and imperial superiority.​​

UCR undergraduates have curated this exhibition as part of their capstone seminar in the History of Art. Drawing on the CMP’s extensive collection, the exhibition reveals how this popular parlor entertainment created visual narratives about American territories, Native Americans, and European colonies that reinforced Western paradigms of cultural dominance. Each carefully selected stereographic view tells a story about how “armchair travel” helped codify American identity through constructed images of otherness—visual attitudes that continue to influence our perceptions today.​

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website

Image credit: Unknown Photographer, Underwood & Underwood Co. A Cuban Family, Havana, Cuba not dated Gelatin Silver Print, Keystone-Mast Collection at UCR ARTS 1996.0009.X6514