'Under the dome'

<p>The Sydney International Exhibition of 1879 was a key moment in shaping attitudes and behaviours in the colony of New South Wales as it strove to find its place in the world under the glare of an international spotlight. International exhibitions showcasing the latest in industry, technology, and culture had been almost universally lauded as celebrations of 'peace, progress, and prosperity' from the time of the first Great Exhibition in London in 1851.¹ Yet by the latter half of the twentieth century some scholars began to question these glowing narratives of industry and progress. Historians such as Robert Rydell and Peter Hoffenberg argued that alongside the celebrations and entertainment, these events also played a somewhat darker role by disseminating particular ideas of culture and progress.² Tony Bennett agreed, claiming they served as civilising agents by fostering self regulation and orderliness within society and showing citizens their place within that — essentially conservative — order.³</p>

<p>1879年悉尼国际博览会（Sydney International Exhibition）是塑造新南威尔士殖民地民众态度与行为范式的关键节点——彼时该殖民地正身处国际聚光灯下，竭力在世界舞台上确立自身定位。自1851年伦敦首届万国工业博览会（Great Exhibition）问世以来，以展示前沿工业、技术与文化成果为主题的国际博览会，几乎无一例外地被奉为“和平、进步与繁荣”的庆典¹。然而到20世纪后半叶，部分学者开始对这类颂扬工业与进步的叙事提出质疑。以罗伯特·赖德尔（Robert Rydell）与彼得·霍夫本格（Peter Hoffenberg）为代表的历史学家指出，这类博览会在承载庆祝与娱乐功能的同时，亦扮演着略显阴暗的角色：它们通过传播特定的文化与进步观念²。托尼·本尼特（Tony Bennett）对此表示认同，主张博览会实则充当了文明教化的媒介：通过培育社会成员的自我约束与秩序意识，向民众指明其在这一本质上保守的社会秩序中所处的位置³。</p>