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Electricity at Court: Technology in Representation of Imperial Power
By the late nineteenth century, the huge potential of electricity was clear to many. However, the electrification of Russian urban spaces and royal palaces developed gradually and required public exposure and approval. Electric illumination started to be an integral part of royal ceremonies. Through ceremonial and festive demonstrations electricity found its way into the palaces. Electrical illumination marked a line between public and private spaces of a palace. The cultural response to the introduction of electric power was cloaked in positive and negative emotive overtones. In addition, the usage of electricity may be interpreted as a representation of the Emperor’s power. The article aims at presenting a cultural history of electricity tracing the advent of electric light to court residences, and the role that electric light played in court holidays, ceremonies, and entertainments. The history of electricity in nineteenth century Russia is inscribed in a wider temporal and spatial context. A comprehensive study of the interactions between the history of technology, history of consumption and court culture are presented.
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