What is Postcolonial Theory?
Summary
TLDRPost-colonial theory is a critical approach in literary studies that examines the lasting impact of European colonialism on a global scale. Originating from Commonwealth literature and third world studies, it challenges the notion of enriching English literature and is heavily influenced by Edward Said's 'Orientalism.' The theory addresses the cultural and literary expressions of former colonies and considers the United States' literature as part of this discourse due to its efforts to establish a non-English dominated canon. It employs postmodern theoretical discourses such as deconstruction and psychoanalysis to understand the world in relation to imperialism and colonialism.
Takeaways
- π Post-colonial theory is a critical approach in literary studies that examines the global impact of European colonialism.
- π It evolved from earlier theories like Commonwealth literature and third world studies.
- ποΈ Edward Said's 'Orientalism' is considered a foundational text of post-colonial theory.
- π The theory explores how colonialism led to attempts to understand and control colonial subjects, creating stereotypes.
- π Post-colonial theory takes various forms but maintains that the world is shaped by the history of imperialism and colonialism.
- πΊοΈ The term 'post-colonial' can refer to the period after colonial independence or the broader effects of colonization.
- π It encompasses cultures affected by imperialism from colonization to the present.
- π Post-colonial theory studies literature from colonies and regions influenced by colonialism, including the United States.
- π The methodology often involves postmodern discourse, deconstruction, psychoanalysis, and Foucauldian discourse analysis.
- π₯ Key figures in post-colonial theory include Edward Said, Gayatri Spivak, and Homi Bhabha.
Q & A
What is post-colonial theory?
-Post-colonial theory is a theoretical approach in literary studies that critically analyzes the global effects of European colonialism.
How did post-colonial theory evolve?
-Post-colonial theory developed from earlier theories of Commonwealth literature and third world studies.
What is the significance of Edward Said's work 'Orientalism' in post-colonial theory?
-Edward Said's 'Orientalism' is considered one of the founding texts of post-colonial theory, focusing on how colonial conquests resulted in an attempt to know and administer colonial subjects.
What are the pervasive images generated by colonial literature according to the transcript?
-The literature of Empire often portrays effeminate Indians, savage Africans, and inscrutably sinister Orientals.
What does the term 'post-colonial' mean in different contexts?
-In terms of period, it refers to the time following the independence of former colonies. In terms of origin, it relates to colonization itself. Geographically, it refers to a vast spatial unity affected by the imperial process.
According to Ashcroft, Griffiths, and Tiffin, why should the literature of the United States be considered post-colonial?
-19th century American literature was marked by an attempt to construct a canon that was not dominated by the English classics, which is why it is considered post-colonial.
What cultures and literatures does post-colonial theory aim to study?
-Post-colonial theory aims to study the cultures and literatures of colonies such as India, Africa, Asia, Canada, Australia, and South America.
What is the methodological approach of post-colonial theory?
-Post-colonial theory tends to be dominated by theoretical discourse associated with post-modernity, including deconstruction, Lacanian psychoanalysis, and discourse analysis derived from Foucault.
Who are some of the key figures in post-colonial theory mentioned in the transcript?
-Key figures in post-colonial theory mentioned include Edward Said, Homi Bhabha, and Gayatri Spivak.
What is the fundamental claim of all post-colonial theories?
-The fundamental claim is that the world we inhabit is impossible to understand except in relationship to the history of imperialism and colonialism.
Why can the term 'post-colonial' be misleading?
-The term 'post-colonial' can be misleading because it suggests a period following colonialism, but it also encompasses the entire history of colonization and its ongoing effects.
Outlines
π Overview of Post-Colonial Theory
Post-colonial theory is a critical approach in literary studies that seeks to analyze the global impact of European colonialism. It evolved from earlier theories on Commonwealth literature and third-world studies. This theory is often associated with Edward Said's 'Orientalism,' which is considered foundational. Post-colonial theory examines how colonial conquests led to attempts to understand and control colonial subjects, resulting in stereotypical images of the 'other' in imperial literature. It encompasses various forms and interventions but fundamentally argues that our world cannot be understood without considering the history of imperialism and colonialism. The term 'post-colonial' can be misleading, as it refers to the period after the independence of former colonies and to cultures affected by colonialism from the moment of colonization to the present day. Post-colonial theory aims to study the cultures and literatures of colonies such as India, Africa, Asia, Canada, Australia, and South America. It also includes American literature from the 19th century, which sought to establish a literary canon independent of English classics. Methodologically, post-colonial theory is linked with post-modern discourse, deconstruction, Lacanian psychoanalysis, and Foucauldian discourse analysis. Key figures in this field include Edward Said, Gayatri Spivak, and Homi Bhabha.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Post-colonial theory
π‘Edward Said
π‘Orientalism
π‘Imperialism
π‘Colonialism
π‘Commonwealth literature
π‘Third world studies
π‘Ashcroft, Griffiths, and Tiffin
π‘Cultural role
π‘Deconstruction
π‘Baba Seel and Spivak
Highlights
Post-colonial theory is a critical analysis of the global effects of European colonialism.
It has roots in Commonwealth literature and third world studies.
Post-colonial theory breaks with the ideology of enriching English literature through Anglophone writers.
Edward Said's 'Orientalism' is considered a founding text of post-colonial theory.
Colonial conquests led to attempts to know and administer colonial subjects.
Post-colonial theory challenges pervasive stereotypes of colonized peoples.
The world is understood in relation to the history of imperialism and colonialism.
The term 'post-colonial' can be misleading regarding the period after colonial independence.
Post-colonial theory encompasses cultures affected by the imperial process from colonization to the present.
Literatures of former colonies and the United States are studied under post-colonial theory.
19th century American literature was an attempt to construct a non-English dominated cannon.
Post-colonial theory is often associated with postmodern theoretical discourse.
Deconstruction, Lacanian psychoanalysis, and Foucauldian discourse analysis are methodologies within post-colonial theory.
Baba Seid and Spivak are prominent figures in post-colonial theory.
Transcripts
what is post-colonial theory broadly
construed post-colonial theory is a
theoretical approach in literary studies
which attempts to critically analyze the
global effects of European colonialism
it has developed out of the earlier
theories of Commonwealth literature and
third world studies and as is well known
this field of study breaks with the
ideology associated with Commonwealth
literature's and thinking claim that the
cultural role of the Anglophone writers
around the world is to enrich English
literature most post-colonial theories
considered Edward Sayid seminal work
titled Orientalism as one of the
founding texts of post-colonial theory
in fact much of the best works in this
field of study has followed the original
thesis put forward by Sayid on how
colonial conquests resulted in an
attempt to know and administer colonial
subjects which inaugurated the other
ring of the other which generates the
pervasive images of effeminate Indians
savage Africans and inscrutably sinister
Orientals that are so common in the
literature of Empire post-colonial
Theory takes many different shapes and
interventions but all share a
fundamental claim that the world do we
inhabit is impossible to understand
except in relationship to the history of
imperialism and colonial
the term post-colonial however can be a
bit misleading some scholars understand
it as the period following the
independence of the former colonies in
terms of origin the post-colonial
with colonization itself and in
geographical terms it refers to a vast
spatial unity according to Ashcroft
Griffiths and Tiffin the post-colonial
refers to all cultures affected by the
imperial process from the moment of
colonization to the present day for this
reason post-colonial theory aims to
study the cultures and literature's of
the colonies such as India Africa Asia
Canada Australia and South America and
according to Ashcroft and Griffiths and
Tiffin the literature of the United
States should also be placed in this
category because 19th century American
literature was marked by an attempt to
construct a cannon that was not
dominated by the English classics in
methodological terms post-colonial
Theory tends to be dominated by the
theoretical discourse associated with
post modernity or in other words
deconstruction forms of Lacanian
psychoanalysis and forms of discourse
analysis derived in part from Foucault
also post-colonial theory is dominated
by the names of baba saeed and Spivak
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