What do you think this is a map of? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/9653497/British-have-invaded-nine-out-of-ten-countries-so-look-out-Luxembourg.html What do you think this is a map of?

Today’s Agenda Learn about Post-Colonialism Literary Theory Go through Wednesday’s test rubric and practise with The Lottery Go through some pointers on Essay Writing A bit of a disconnected lesson, but it will be helpful.

For the test Post-colonial theory will not be on Wednesday’s test; however, we will be using it for 1984. Formalist Theory Feminist Theory Marxist Theory Archetypal Theory Psychoanalytic Theory

What questions would a post-colonial theorist ask? To know what post-colonialism is. To understand how to apply post-colonialism to literature. To be able to analyze a short story using a post-colonial lens. Otherness; Ethnocentric; Eurocentric; Race; Ethnicity; Orientalism; Hybridity; Subaltern

What is “Post Colonial”? Many countries in Africa, Asia, and all of North America had been governed by a European nation (often Britain) These European nations “conquered” these countries with the intention of “civilizing” them and exploiting their natural resources

What is it? As a theory: a reaction to the power structures of the (ex) colonial rulers As a group of writers: writers of fiction and non-fiction from the (ex) colonies Otherness; Ethnocentric; Eurocentric; Race; Ethnicity; Orientalism; Hybridity; Subaltern

problems Otherness; Ethnocentric; Eurocentric; Race; Ethnicity; Not all nations studied have been colonies Many titles were written before independence Colonialism is not over It is Eurocentric and not the only experience of postcolonial nations Not all postcolonial writers write of colonialism Not everyone wants to be labelled as postcolonial _______________________________________________________ To make it more inclusive, post-colonial theories has developed to include Race, Ethnicity, and Post-Colonial Analysis Similar to how Feminism has led to more of a focus on Genders instead of only focusing on women. Otherness; Ethnocentric; Eurocentric; Race; Ethnicity; Orientalism; Hybridity; Subaltern

-explores relationships between a text and its social context -examines how the belief systems of a time and place are reflected in, and potentially altered by literary representation -racism and ethnocentrism are thoroughly entrenched in language, literature, art, and social institutions -“race” = physical distinctions combined with distinct social history -“ethnicity” = nonphysical aspects of cultural identity (religion, social customs, language) -“post-colonialism” focuses on national and regional legacies of national and regional imperialism and colonialism -commitment to challenging oppression based on cultural identity -understanding that race and ethnicity have been used in ways that empowered and oppressed

Post Colonial Literary Theory So…post colonialism looks at a story and focuses on: its setting its unique conflicts how the characters deal with these conflicts (all of which are due to the fact that the European nation pulled out and left a “power vacuum”) Otherness; Ethnocentric; Eurocentric; Race; Ethnicity; Orientalism; Hybridity; Subaltern

Theorists – an overview The theory evolved as a reaction to colonialism: Militarily – physical rule But more importantly Culturally – mental rule And now increasingly financially – economic rule Otherness; Ethnocentric; Eurocentric; Race; Ethnicity; Orientalism; Hybridity; Subaltern

Disney’s Aladdin Intro song: “it’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home” Good guys – fair skinned, Caucasian features, American accents Bad guys – dark skinned, Semitic noses and foreign accents Film is replete with stereotypical oriental characters http://www.asianetwork.org/exchange/2006-fall/anex2006-fall-singh.pdf

Practise...to see if you get it yet. Read the story called The Dinner Party. Don’t worry, it is short! Consider the following questions: its setting (time, place, cultural atmosphere) its unique conflicts (tensions between characters) how the characters deal with these conflicts (and so what underlying message about post-colonial issues does the author want us to think?) Otherness; Ethnocentric; Eurocentric; Race; Ethnicity; Orientalism; Hybridity; Subaltern

Consolidation What questions would a Race, Ethnic, and Postcolonial theorist ask when analyzing a literary text? Think about the other literary theories that may help you when thinking of questions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrB4_9dmOLs (5-minutes) Otherness; Ethnocentric; Eurocentric; Race; Ethnicity; Orientalism; Hybridity; Subaltern

Edward Said – Orientalism (1978) The study of orientalism leads to divisions between east (the orient) and west (the occident) The image of the orient is constructed, and creates the idea that all “eastern” cultures are fundamentally similar to each other ... ...and inferior to western cultures “The East” is seen as homogenous Otherness; Ethnocentric; Eurocentric; Race; Ethnicity; Orientalism; Hybridity; Subaltern

Gyatri Spivak – the subaltern Subaltern – persons outside of the political hegemony Can the Subaltern Speak? (1988) Marginalised groups have no “voice” Postcolonial theorists continue to use the language, power, educational and political structures of the ruling hegemony Therefore only subalterns are qualified to speak for themselves Otherness; Ethnocentric; Eurocentric; Race; Ethnicity; Orientalism; Hybridity; Subaltern

Homi K. Bhabha - hybridization Homi K. Bhabha and hybridization The Location of Culture (1994) Writers belong to both cultures Postcolonial writers, using colonial forms: Hybridize, change and add nuance Becomes an act of subversion Eventually a political act Otherness; Ethnocentric; Eurocentric; Race; Ethnicity; Orientalism; Hybridity; Subaltern

A few postcolonial writers... Problem: “I am not a postcolonial writer – I am a writer” Studying the postcolonial writer – continued orientalism? We have to deconstruct the postcolonial writer as the Other

Chinua Achebe Nigeria Things Fall Apart 1958 A reaction to Heart of Darkness Neutral standpoint? Gives Africans a voice

V.S.Naipaul Trinidad A House for Mr Biswas 1961 Explores the territory that exists between cultures An allegory for the post-colonial nation’s search for identity

Jean Rhys Dominican Wide Sargasso Sea 1966 A prequel to Brontë's Jane Eyre Gives voice to the “Madwoman in the attic” Marginalises the colonial rulers

Salman Rushdie India Midnight’s Children 1981 A retelling of India’s and Pakistan’s independence Magic realism – challenging western tradition of narrative, and questioning the neutrality of historical narratives Hybridity – blending colonial and indigenous viewpoints

Arundhati Roy The God of Small Things 1997 Example of the modern postcolonial novel A refocusing on internal social and political issues But we can see how the western hegemony is partly responsible