Spectacles, Politics, and Patriotism: Cultural Uses of Joan of Arc in Fort Wayne and Beyond
Date/Time
Date(s) - Mar 2, 2025
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Location The History Center
Presented by Suzanne LaVere
Joan of Arc’s brief and brilliant career fighting for 15th century France and dying a martyr’s death has served as an inspiration for people both in and well beyond her country of origin. During her lifetime and in the centuries since her death, Joan has become a powerful and malleable cultural symbol. This is true in the United States, where many different groups and individuals have employed Joan’s image and events of her life to promote causes like women’s suffrage and the U.S.’s entry into World War I, to draw attention to women stepping outside of the domestic sphere and even to entertain audiences and advertise products. Using examples from Fort Wayne and Indiana media, this presentation will explore the many ways Joan of Arc’s image was deployed in late 19th and early 20th century American culture and society.
