Cultural Imperialism (1): Theories 1. Culture (e.g. literature, language, popular culture) supports imperialism and is one way to spread it. 2. The definition of the self and others are based upon representations rather than reality; 3. A series of binary oppositions (exact opposites) were employed to at once define the colonized subjects and the colonizing masters. The West/Self as civilised, just, moral, industrious, rational, Masculine The Oriental/Other as savage, lewd, lazy, superstitious, feminine

Cultural Imperialism (2): Theories Decoration and support for building the Empire Biological Differences: Justification of Racism A diagram from Sander Gilman's Difference and Pathology of  racial/ethnic classifications by physical characteristics, such  as cranial shape and size. (Identity and Difference 308a)*   This attempts to explain racial differences in terms of the races' biological attributes (i.e. the cranial size and shape), and with the arrangement of the races on the diagram, a kind of hierarchy is implied.

Edward Said’s theory of Orientalism A concept introduced by Edward Said (1978) Attempted to explain how the European/Western colonizers looked upon the “Orient” presenting the East as “the Other” (weaker, less civilized, inscrutable, wicked), or as “the exotic” e.g. Arabian Nights, Madame Butterfly and all the images of Oriental women as submissive, sexual and sweet.

The concept of the “East” i The concept of the “East” i.e the “orient” was created by the “West suppressing the ability of the “Orient” to express themselves. “Western depiction of the “Orient” construct an inferior world, a place of backwardness and irrationality, and wildness. This allows the “West” to identify themselves as the opposite of these characteristics: as a superior world that was progressive, rational, and civil.

  Postcolonial theory attempts to focus on the oppression of those who were ruled under colonization. Factors include: Political oppression Economic oppression Social/cultural oppression Psychological oppression Of those who were formerly colonized.

In postcolonial theory, the word colonized can mean many things. Literal colonization More abstract “colonization” African-Americans Native Americans in the United States

Postcolonial theorists believe that the colonizers: Imposed their own values onto those colonized so that they were internalized Example: Social/Cultural - Spanish language/Catholic religion among the formerly colonized like the Philippines

Political – Drew the boundaries of Africa based on European politics rather than tribal interests Postcolonial theorists also analyze the processes by which those who were colonized resisted the colonizers.

Post Colonial Literature Sometimes called “New English Literature(s), is a body of literary writings that reacts to the discourse of colonization. Postcolonial literature often involves writings that deals with the issue of de-colonization or the political and cultural independence of people formerly subjugated to colonial rule.

It is also a literary critique to texts that carry racists or colonial undertones. In its most recent form, it also attempts to critique the postcolonial discourse that has been shaped over recent times. It attempts to re-read this very emergence of postcolonialism and its literary expression itself.

The three subjects of postcolonial literature Social and cultural change or erosion: It seems that after independence is achieved, one question arises; what is the new cultural identity? Misuse of power and exploitation: even though the large power ceases to control them as colony, the settlers still seem to continue

Imposing power over the native Imposing power over the native. The question here; who really is the power here, why, and how does an independence day really mean independence? 3. Colonial abandonment and alienation: This topic is generally brought up to examine individuals and not the ex-colony as a whole. The individuals tend to ask themselves: in this new country, where do I fit in and how do I make a living?

4. Use of English language literature: it may be asked if the target of post-colonial studies, i.e. the analysis of post-colonial literature and culture, can be reached neglecting literary works in the original languages of post-colonial nations.

What happens after colonization? What language do you speak? What culture do you follow? Hybridization and Double Consciousness Awareness of culture before colonized and during colonization and what emerged as a result

Examining colonizer/colonized relationships in literature Is the work pro/anti colonialist? Why? Does the text reinforce or resist colonialist ideology? Tries to introduce/expose “otherized” works. What is the prevalent culture in the work? Resisting/Revising the canon.