The Front Room: Migrant Aesthetics in the Home - Softcover

Michael McMillan

4.2

5 ratings by Goodreads

9781906155858: The Front Room: Migrant Aesthetics in the Home

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1906155852 ISBN 13: 9781906155858

Publisher: Black Dog Publishing, 2009

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The Front Room is a unique study by author Michael McMillan of the position of the home in different migrant groups. McMillan draws upon memories of his relatives' homes in the 1960s and 1970s to show a representation of his vision of the traditional West Indian front room and the symbolism of particular objects. McMillan examines how these rooms raise the issues of class, migration, aspiration, religion, alienation, family and the transition from the colonial to the post-colonial. The front room often provides an outlet to respond to the feelings of displacement, exile and alienation and the rebuilding of a home in a strange land. The Front Room discusses the groundings of the front room in Victoriana and colonialism, with memories from first-generation West Indians and second-generation Black British. Primarily concerned with the West Indian front room the book expands to Moroccan, Surinamese, Antillean and Indonesian migrant groups and the decoration of their interiors and their position throughout decolonization. With text from leading cultural theorist Stuart Hall and photographs from living rooms and lounges of the time, installations by artists on the theme of the living room and photos of associated objects, this book presents a unique discussion of cultural studies.

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Product Description:

The Front Room is a unique study by writer/curator Michael McMillan of the position of the home in different migrant groups. Embodied in The West Indian Front Room is the experience of growing up during the 1960s and 1970s in a Caribbean family settling in Britain. McMillan examines how these rooms raise issues of class, migration, aspiration, religion, alienation, family and the transition From the colonial to the post-colonial.The Front Room discusses the groundings of the Front room in Victoriana and colonialism, memories From first generation West Indians and second generation Black British.
The book also expands to the contemporary living room of Moroccan, Indonesian, Surinamese and Antillean migrant groups in Holland and their diasporas.With text From leading cultural theorist Stuart Hall, anecdotes From comedians Angie Le Mar, novelist Mike Phillips and artist Sonia Boyce amongst other; photographs of front room and living room installations and associated objected, this book presents a unique discussion of cultural studies.

Review:

There is another, alternative history which is about the occupation and adaptation of homes and the different people that live in them. This book is an important part of that story. --Icon

Why would I be interested in doing a book about it?The reason lie in understanding how such rooms have shaped identity. --The Guardian

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