1. Literary (Cultural) Theory Feminism & Postcolonialism

2. Theory Some General Observations

3. Theory Nothing “right” or “wrong” about different theories Ways of looking at the world –Ways of reinterpreting the human experience –Lenses through which to view cultural artifacts Theories borrow from each other –Rarely does a scholar use only one theory

4. Feminism

5. Main concern –cultural context of texts and cultures –male/female power struggle in texts and cultures –othering Trends –study of difference –study of power relationships –study of female experience

6. Key Concepts in Feminism Antrocentrism: attitudes, practices or social organizations based on assumption that men are the model of being Gynocriticism: trend examining distinctive characteristics of the female experience Misogyny: hatred of women Patriarchy: Social system headed and directed by a male

7. Postcolonialism

8. Main concern –Study of cultures formerly (or currently) colonized –Power struggle between cultures –Intersection of cultures Trends –Study of colonizing process –Study of colonization fallout –Study of new colonizing efforts

9. Key Concepts in Postcolonialism Colonialism –the subjection of one population by another often violent Cultural colonization subjugation of colonized culture in all respects imposition of colonizer’s culture on colonized

10. Key Concepts in Postcolonialism Othering: the assumption that those who are different from oneself are inferior Demonic other: view that those who are different from oneself are not only backward but also savage, even evil Exotic other: view that those who are different from oneself possess an inherent dignity and beauty, perhaps because of their more undeveloped, natural state of being

11. Key Concepts in Postcolonialism Double vision/double consciousness: sense of being part of both colonized and colonizing cultures Eurocentrism: view that European (including American) ideals and experiences are the standard Hybridity/syncretism: quality of cultures that have characteristics of both the colonizers and the colonized Neocolonialism: domination of a developing nation by international corporations attracted by cheap labor and manipulable political and legal systems.

12. Key Concepts in Postcolonialism Mimicry: imitation of the dress, manners, and language of the dominant culture by the oppressed Subalterns: people of inferior status Unhomeliness: the sense of being culturally displaced, of being caught between two cultures and not “at home” in either. Universalism: belief that a great work of literature deals with certain themes and characters that are common in European literature--Eurocentric in nature.