Download - Post Colonial Theory Ppt
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Postcolonial Theory
A theory on and lens forlife after foreign rule.
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Before we begin
If you dont already have them out, get
out your notebooks and pens.
You will be responsible for knowing thisinformation, as it will show up on yourexams and/or paper assignments.
Once again, this is for your benefit so
please pay attention.
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What puts the post in Postcolonialism? Considering post is a prefix meaning
after, we need to first discuss the historybehind colonialism.
What is colonialism?
An extension of a nations rule over territorybeyond its borders
A population that is subjected to the politicaldomination of another population
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To provide some context This is the world at what is considered the height
of colonialism. What do you notice?
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Why were people colonized? Social Darwinism
Eurocentrism Universalism
Colonialism is nature
White Mans Burden
What was thought to be an obligation tocivilize non-European peoples
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A cartoon to emphasize the point What is going on here? What do you notice?
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How long did it last and why did it end? 15th Century to 20th century (arguably, it
is still going on).
WWII
Right to sovereignty
Lack of resources
Independence movements
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Ok, so what is POSTcolonialism? Postcolonial theory attempts to focus on
the oppression of those who were ruledunder colonization.
Factors include Political oppression
Economic oppression Social/cultural oppression
Psychological oppression
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Who are the oppressed? Those who were formerly colonized.
In postcolonial theory, the word colonizedcan mean many things.
Literal colonization
More abstract colonization
African-Americans
Native Americans in the United States
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How was the colonized oppressed? Postcolonial theorists believe that the
colonizers (generally Europeans): Imposed their own values onto those colonized
so that they were internalized
Example? Social/Cultural - Spanish language/Catholic religion in
the Caribbean
Political Drew the boundaries of Africa based on
European politics rather than tribal interests
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Whats going on here?
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Political divisions of Africa
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How did the oppressed escape? Postcolonial theorists also analyze the
processes by which those who werecolonized resisted the colonizers
Examples?
Haiti South Africa
India
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Otherism Postcolonial theorists also try to identify
examples in which the colonized and theirvalues were otherized
What does otherism mean?
Us-civilized-Western Them-the others-colonized
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Eurocentric beliefs and language First World v. Third World
Developed v. Developing
The Canon
What defines a great literary work?
Did the colonized have an opportunity to writegreat works?
If so, did they have the opportunities to spreadtheir words like the colonized did?
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Orientalism A concept introduced by Edward Said (1978)
Attempted to explain how the European/Westerncolonizers looked upon the Orient
What is the Orient?
A mystical place that was stereotyped due to lackof knowledge and imagination
A lumping together of Asia
Examples? Literature helped perpetuate this
Lawrence of Arabia
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An example of Orientalism
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The aftermath What happens after colonization?
What language do you speak? What culture do you follow?
Hybridization and Double Consciousness Two terms to describe the results of
colonization on those colonized
Awareness of culture before colonized andduring colonization and what emerged as aresult
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The aftermath (continued) Unhomeliness/Exile
What is home to you? A state of limbo, without a certain or definite
identity
Being caught between cultures Being literally moved as a result of colonialism
(On Exile Edward Said)
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Postcolonialism: the critical lens Examining colonizer/colonized
relationships in literature Is the work pro/anti colonialist? Why?
Does the text reinforce or resist colonialist
ideology?
Tries to introduce/expose otherized
works Works by the colonized
Resisting/Revising the canon
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Postcolonialism: the critical lens Explore the dynamics of colonization
through literary works How did it come about?
How did it end?
How does the text explain this?
Looking at the otherized characters
Example?
Chief Broom Bromden in Cuckoos Nest
Frankensteins monster
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Refer to your packet! Make sure to refer to the packet for more
ideas about how you can view works froma postcolonial lens
Questions?