POSTCOLONIALISM
By: Liza F. Badillo Cruz
March 2, 2009.
ENGG 630
Contemporary Literary Theory
Professor: Dr. Evelyn Lugo
Mondays 6:00-9:00pm
Objectives:
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Definitions or concepts of what is Postcolonialsm?
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Major Figures
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KeyTerms
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Examples
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e--JMrXJyZk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWj9E4M8o20
Postcolonialism:
Postcolonialism (post-colonial theory or postoriental) is an intellectual discourse that holds
together a set of theories or philosophies, films,
political science and literature. From the XVI-XIX
and XX centuries.
These theories are reactions to the cultural
legacy of colonialism.
As a literary theory (or critical approach), it
deals with literature produced in countries
that once were colonies of theories found
among the texts and sub-texts of other
countries, especially of the European
colonial powers Britain, France, and Spain;
in some contexts, it includes countries still in
colonial arrangements.
It also deals with literature written in
colonial countries and by their citizens that
has colonized people as its subject matter.
Postcolonial theory was part of the
1970,with the “orientalism” of Edward
Said. Describes the discourse about the East
constructed by the West.
Colonized people, especially of the British
Empire, attended British universities; their
access to education, still unavailable in the
colonies, created a new criticism - mostly
literary, and especially in novels. Following
the breakup of the Soviet Union during the
late 20th century, its former republics
became the subject of this study as well.
Temporal Aception- postcolonialsm
appears in 1947 with the independence of
India, at the end of the Second World War.
It appears in Asia and Africa in all Europe
from XVI century. (P. Williams, L. Chrismas)
(F. Jameson).
Discursive Aception- literature made
in the colonial period (B. Ashcroft), and
practice that braked down the
arguments use from Europe to
dominate. (E. Shoat, M.L.Pratt)
Epistemic Aception- postcolonial
theories, 1980 England and U.S.A
by the Palestine Edward Said. In his
book “Orientalism”(1978). The “other”
human science and imperialism.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pmkfvzmLdU
Major Figures:
Edward Said
Wole Soyinka
Homi Bhabha
Salman Rushdie
Frantz Fanon
Jamaica Kincaid
Gayatri Spivak
Buchi Emecheta
Chinua Achebe
Key Terms
Alterity-lack of identification with some part of
one’s community, differentness, otherness.
Diaspora-refer to any people or ethnic
population forced or induce to leave their
homelands, being dispersed throughout other
parts of the world.
Imperialsm-extending the control or
authorithy over foreing entities as a means
of acquisition and maintenance of empires,
either through direct territorial control.
Eurocentrism-the practice, conscious or
otherwise, of placing emphasis on European
concerns, culture and values at the expense of
those of other cultures.
Hybridity-referring to the integration of cultural
signs and practices from the colonizing and
colonized cultures.
Examples:
Books:
Achebe, Things Fall Apart
Soyinka, The Lion and the Jewel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy6wo2wpT2k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM37tB_F96o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygNuRpwZqRU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbtA0TIyoI8
Films:
Mississipi Masala(Mira Nair,1992)
Sugar Cane Alley,(1984)
Xala, (1974)
Whale Rider, (2004)
References:
Siegel, Kristi Dr. Introduction to Modern Literary Theory.
Recuperado el 1 de Febrero de 2009.
http://www. Kristisiegel.com/theory.htm
Postcolonialism-Wikipedia, la Enciclopedia Libre.
Recuperado el 17 de Febrero de 2009.
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postcolonialism
Yifen, Beus Dr. Postcolonial Literature and Film.
Recuperado el 17 de Febrero de 2009.
http://w2.byuh.edu/academics/ICS/ICS%20401A.htm