A World on Display

To Rush H. Limbaugh it imparted "tremendous knowledge;" to others, it was seen as a "human zoo." In many ways, the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis was both: a genuine attempt to bring first-hand knowledge of the world to the heartland of America and an embarrassingly presumptuous display of imperialistic lipsmacking over Third World resources ripe for exploitation. In the center of the fair, the "civilized" nations were represented, while along the periphery were ranged the indigenous, non-Western peoples. The largest exhibit was the Philippine display--namely because it was a jewel in the American tricorner hat. Filmmaker Eric Breitbart's trenchant documentary does a fine job of intertwining interviews with attendees of the fair and historians together with stills and archival footage to offer an intriguing look at the gap between what the fair's promoters intended (they saw themselves as educators) and what really transpired: the largest display of social Darwinism the world has ever seen. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Pitman)