Theory … Is a body of thinking and writing Makes people think differently about their objects of study Disputes (or forces people away from) common sense

Post-Colonial Literary Theory (lens) Until lions tell their stories, tales of hunting will glorify the hunter. A note about lenses: No single lens always gives the clearest view; all have strengths and weaknesses Applying different lenses to the same text can reveal new features of that text It is easier to novices to apply one lens at a time Understanding lenses is a journey, not a destination. Understanding will come slowly Turning lenses on your own life can help you understand more about literature and yourself These lectures are extremely simplified. These theories are based on years of scholarly research and debate.

Key Terms Colonialism Marginalize Exploitation Identity (culture) Subversive

Colonization of Africa- by country

Big Question How does this text 1. comment on 2. represent 3 or repress the marginalized voices caused by colonization? Every lens has a big question that it’s trying to answer. They are tools to figure out the overall effect or meaning of the book. Sometimes you will be able to answer the question – sometimes you wont. To comment on—might take the form of least biased—simply a re-telling of events, does not necessarily have an agenda or a motive. Represent/repressed—how are they characterized?

Colonization disrupts both groups. Assumptions Colonization disrupts both groups. Colonization is the exploitation of 1 national group by another. It is a powerful and destructive force that impacts both groups Example: Marlow and Kurtz are changed by imperialism.

Colonized societies are marginalized Colonized people are “othered” Assumption 2 Colonized societies are marginalized Colonized people are “othered” Do you get an authentic cultural voice in HOD? Does Marlow speak about the Africans with any humanity?

Assumption 3 Literature written by colonizers distorts realities and experiences of the colonized. Literature written by colonized attempts to preserve or redefine a sense of cultural identity.

What to do: Does the text represent a colonized people or cultural group? Does the text create images of “others”? Does the text show a colonial mindset? Ask how conflicts in text might be viewed as cultural conflicts. All these would take the form of “if so, how?”