Postcolonial Criticism and Some Relevant Theoretical Concepts From Beginning Theory

Postcolonialism Emerged in the 1990’s Undermines universalist claims Universal claims disregard difference Regional National Cultural Social White Eurocentric norms should not be privileged

To Achieve Postcolonial Perspective First step for the “colonized” is to reclaim their own past i.e.. History did not begin with the Europeans Second step is to erode colonialist ideology that devalued their past

Orientalism (continued) Filled with anonymous masses of people (not individuals) Actions determined by instinct (lust, terror, fury, etc.) vs. logic Their reactions are determined by racial considerations rather than individual circumstance

Ground Breaking Work Edward Said’s Orientalism East is seen as “other”; inferior to the West East is portrayed as projection of negative aspects cruelty, sensuality, decadence, laziness, etc. Yet East is also portrayed as exotic, mystical, seductive

Characteristics of Postcolonial Criticism 1. An awareness of representation of non-Europeans as exotic or ‘Other’ 2. Concern with language Some conclude the colonizer's language is permanently tainted, to write in it involves acquiescence in colonial structures

Characteristics of Postcolonial Criticism (cont.) 3. Emphasis on identity as doubled or unstable (identify with colonizer and colonized) 4. Stress on cross cultural interactions

Stages of Postcolonial Criticism Phase 1: Analyze white representation of colonial countries…uncover bias Phase 2: Postcolonial writers explore selves and society (The empire writes back)

What Postcolonial Critics Do Reject claims of universalism Examine representation of other cultures Show how literature is silent on matters of imperialism and colonialism Foreground questions of diversity and cultural difference Celebrate ‘cultural polyvancy’ (belonging to more than one culture) Assert that marginality, plurality and ‘Otherness’ are sources of energy and potential change

Alberto Memmi – The Colonizer and the Colonized Memmi describes this work as “portraits of the two protagonists of the colonial drama and the relationship that binds them” Three factors typify the colonizer:- Profit , privilege and usurpation “Colonizer who refuses” and “colonizer who accepts” The colonizer questions the validity of his own identity.

The Colonizer Three factors typify the colonizer:- Profit , privilege and usurpation “Colonizer who refuses” and “colonizer who accepts” The colonizer questions the validity of his own identity.

Colonized The colonized becomes “divorced from reality”. The colonizer controls the mean of cultural production like education. The colonized come to believe that the colonizer’s culture is inherently superior. The colonized are denied of all their human rights. They are treated like animals. But Memmi believes that the colonial system is fundamentally unstable and will lead to its own destruction, due to mere rigidity of the system.

Colonizer

Colonized

Hegemony The Italian Marxist Gramsci created the concept of cultural hegemony. 'Hegemony' in this case means the success of the dominant classes in presenting their definition of reality, their view of the world, in such a way that it is accepted by other classes as 'common sense'. The general 'consensus' is that it is the only sensible way of seeing the world. Alternate views are marginalized Hegemony is maintained by force and cultural dominance. No one dominant group – shifting alliances

The Other Concept of the "Other" in Literature The concept of the ‘Other’ in literature can is considered to be an individual who is perceived by a group as not belonging; as they have been culturally constructed as being fundamentally different in some way (Southwest Educational Development Laboratory 1999). The other is seen as an inferior being. For an example, it may be someone who is of a different race, gender, culture, religion, social class, sexual orientation or nationality. 

Gaze One thing post-colonial critics look at is how the gaze of the other and interpretations of self affect who people are and how they react to each other. This can create a chain reaction: we react to our perception of how others perceive and react to us, regardless of whether our perceptions are accurate. How does gaze affect characters’ behavior in Chapter VII?

Ideology The entirety or the system of ideas of the ruling class would be the Ideology of a given society. The function of ideology would be the continual reproduction of the means of production and thereby to ensure the continuous dominance of the ruling class. (Marx and Engels). Ruling classes enforce their ideologies through force and cultural production in order to maintain and justify power.

Ideology  Ideology achieves this by distorting reality. While in fact the split in ruling and subservient social classes is artificial (i.e. man made) and serves the needs of the economic system, the ideas of ideology makes it appear natural. It makes the subordinate classes accept a state of alienation against they would otherwise revolt. This state of alienation has also been referred to as "false consciousness".

Interpellation Interpellation Interpellation, a term coined by French Marxist philosopher Louis Althousser, describes the process by which ideology addresses the individual. To illustrate how interpellation functions in the context of ideology Althousser used the example of the policeman who shouts "Hey, you there!" At least one individual will turn around (most likely the right one) to "answer" that call. At this moment, when one realizes that the call is for oneself, one becomes a subject relative to the ideology of law and crime. According to Althusser, this is the way in which ideology generally functions. We are all always caught up in the process in which we voluntarily acknowledge the validity or relevance of the dominant ideology in which we live for ourselves and thus subject ourselves to it. The example of the policeman furthermore suggests that we really have not a choice in this matter. Were we to ignore the call, we would sooner or later be forced to adhere to it.