1. What do you think this is a map of?
What do you think this is a map of?

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. -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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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.
(5-minutes)
Otherness; Ethnocentric; Eurocentric; Race; Ethnicity;
Orientalism; Hybridity; Subaltern

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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