““Of Mimicry and Man: the Of Mimicry and Man: the Ambivalence of Colonial Ambivalence of Colonial

Discourse”Discourse”Francesca FerranteFrancesca Ferrante

Literatura Anglesa i ImperiLiteratura Anglesa i Imperi2009-20102009-2010

Homi BhabaHomi Bhaba (1949) (1949)

Indian theorist of PostcolonialismIndian theorist of Postcolonialism

Bhabha’s biographyBhabha’s biography

He was born in 1949 in a Parsi family in Mumbay He was born in 1949 in a Parsi family in Mumbay (India).(India).

The Parsis, a minority with a worldwide population The Parsis, a minority with a worldwide population of approximately 160,000, are Zoroastrians who of approximately 160,000, are Zoroastrians who migrated from Persia to India in the eighth century migrated from Persia to India in the eighth century to avoid persecution. to avoid persecution.

A principal characteristic of Parsi identity is its A principal characteristic of Parsi identity is its cultural/linguistic hybridity, which accompanies an cultural/linguistic hybridity, which accompanies an economic mobility and international experience. economic mobility and international experience.

Bhabha’s own educational background demonstrates Bhabha’s own educational background demonstrates this mobility: he first studied at the University of this mobility: he first studied at the University of Bombay, before moving to the University of Oxford.Bombay, before moving to the University of Oxford.

His teaching career has continued this mobility, taking in His teaching career has continued this mobility, taking in the University of Sussex in the UK, before crossing the the University of Sussex in the UK, before crossing the Atlantic to Chicago and then Harvard. Atlantic to Chicago and then Harvard.

He is now Anne F. Rothenberg Professor of English and He is now Anne F. Rothenberg Professor of English and American Literature at Harvard University.American Literature at Harvard University.

Homi K. Bhabha is best known for his central Homi K. Bhabha is best known for his central contribution to the development of post-colonial theory contribution to the development of post-colonial theory

The Literary EncyclopediaThe Literary Encyclopedia

What is Postcolonialism?What is Postcolonialism?

A reaction to Colonialism?A reaction to Colonialism?

Postcolonialism is the social, political, economical and cultural Postcolonialism is the social, political, economical and cultural practises which arise in response and resitance to Colonialism. practises which arise in response and resitance to Colonialism. (Lye)(Lye)

It can be seen as a deconstruction of the binary opposition It can be seen as a deconstruction of the binary opposition created by Colonialism to subordinate the colonized as created by Colonialism to subordinate the colonized as uncivilized, bad and decandent.uncivilized, bad and decandent.

““Postcolonial" rather than indicating only a specific and Postcolonial" rather than indicating only a specific and materially historical event, seems to describe the second half materially historical event, seems to describe the second half of the twentieth-century in general as a period in the aftermath of the twentieth-century in general as a period in the aftermath of the heyday of colonialism. of the heyday of colonialism.

Even more generically, the term "postcolonial" is used to Even more generically, the term "postcolonial" is used to signify a position against Imperialism and Eurocentrismsignify a position against Imperialism and Eurocentrism . .

Main issues: identity, gender, race, racism and ethnicityMain issues: identity, gender, race, racism and ethnicity

Post colonial studiesPost colonial studiesMain theoristsMain theorists

Edward SaidEdward Said

(1935-2003)(1935-2003)

Orientalism (1978)Orientalism (1978)

Post colonial studiesPost colonial studiesMain theoristsMain theorists

Gayatri Gayatri Chakravorty Chakravorty SpivakSpivak

(1943)(1943)

The Post-Colonial The Post-Colonial CriticCritic ( (19901990) )

The location of cultures (1994)The location of cultures (1994)

This book assembles several of Homi Bhabha's most significant essays. This book assembles several of Homi Bhabha's most significant essays.

Bhabha is perhaps most well-known for his theory of cultural hybridity, Bhabha is perhaps most well-known for his theory of cultural hybridity, which he develops in "Signs Taken For Wonders" and several other essays which he develops in "Signs Taken For Wonders" and several other essays included in this collection included in this collection

Bhabha argues that hybridity results from various forms of colonization, Bhabha argues that hybridity results from various forms of colonization, which lead to cultural collisions and interchanges. In the attempt to assert which lead to cultural collisions and interchanges. In the attempt to assert colonial power in order to create anglicized subjects, "[t]he trace of what is colonial power in order to create anglicized subjects, "[t]he trace of what is disavowed is not repressed but repeated as something disavowed is not repressed but repeated as something differentdifferent--a mutation, --a mutation, a hybrid" (p. 111) a hybrid" (p. 111)

Philosophy and LiteraturePhilosophy and Literature 19.1 (1995) 196-197 19.1 (1995) 196-197

The location of cultures (1994)The location of cultures (1994)

". . . the colonial presence ". . . the colonial presence is always ambivalent, split is always ambivalent, split between its presence as between its presence as original and authoritativeoriginal and authoritative and its and its articulation as articulation as repetition and differencerepetition and difference" (107). " (107).

""HybridityHybridity is a problematic of colonial representation and is a problematic of colonial representation and individuation that reverses the effects of the colonialist individuation that reverses the effects of the colonialist disavowal, so that disavowal, so that other 'denied' knowledgesother 'denied' knowledges enter upon the enter upon the dominant discourse and estrange the basis of its authority -- its dominant discourse and estrange the basis of its authority -- its rule of recognition" (114).   . . . "This partializing process of rule of recognition" (114).   . . . "This partializing process of hybridity is best described as a metonymy of presence" (115) hybridity is best described as a metonymy of presence" (115)

The Location of CultureThe Location of Culture.  NY: Routledge, 1994..  NY: Routledge, 1994.

Of Mimicry and ManOf Mimicry and Man (1984)(1984)

“Colonial mimicry is the desire for a reformed, recognizable “Colonial mimicry is the desire for a reformed, recognizable Other, as a subject of a difference that is almost the same, but not Other, as a subject of a difference that is almost the same, but not

quite.”quite.”Bhabha, Of mimicry and ManBhabha, Of mimicry and Man

By adopting the language and forms of the empire, the colonised By adopting the language and forms of the empire, the colonised subjects can reflect back to the colonisers a distorted image of subjects can reflect back to the colonisers a distorted image of their world which is unsettling to their authority. It is not just their world which is unsettling to their authority. It is not just about copying or imitation, but about displacement; reflecting about copying or imitation, but about displacement; reflecting

back an image that is subtly but distinctively different.back an image that is subtly but distinctively different.

Postcolonial Science Fiction, Dr Michelle Reid (Oxford University Library Services)

““The mimic man is…the effect of a flawed colonial mimesis, in The mimic man is…the effect of a flawed colonial mimesis, in which to be Anglicized is which to be Anglicized is emphaticallyemphatically not to be English" (87) not to be English" (87)

In his article "Of Mimicry and Man" (1984), Homi Bhabha In his article "Of Mimicry and Man" (1984), Homi Bhabha

discusses how, as part of the so called discusses how, as part of the so called "civilising mission", the "civilising mission", the colonial authorities wanted their colonised subjects to imitate colonial authorities wanted their colonised subjects to imitate the manners, language, and society of the imperial centre. the manners, language, and society of the imperial centre. However, they wished this imitation only to be partial, so their However, they wished this imitation only to be partial, so their colonised subjects remained separate and still requiring British colonised subjects remained separate and still requiring British rule. rule.

Postcolonial Science Fiction, Dr Michelle Reid (Oxford University Library Services)

On the one hand, Bhabha sees the colonizer as a snake in the On the one hand, Bhabha sees the colonizer as a snake in the grass who, speaks in "a tongue that is grass who, speaks in "a tongue that is forkedforked," and produces a ," and produces a mimetic representation that "... emerges as one of the mostmimetic representation that "... emerges as one of the most elusive and effective strategies of colonial power and elusive and effective strategies of colonial power and knowledge " (Bhabha 85). knowledge " (Bhabha 85).

Bhabha recognizes then that colonial power carefully Bhabha recognizes then that colonial power carefully establishes highly-sophisticated strategies of control and establishes highly-sophisticated strategies of control and dominance. dominance.

Mimicry, Ambivalence and HybridityMimicry, Ambivalence and Hybridity

On the other hand, Bhabha immediately diverts his On the other hand, Bhabha immediately diverts his pertinent analysis by shifting the superlative certainty pertinent analysis by shifting the superlative certainty of the colonizer and the strategic effectiveness of his of the colonizer and the strategic effectiveness of his political intentions into an alarming uncertainty.political intentions into an alarming uncertainty.

By producing a partial vision of the colonizer's By producing a partial vision of the colonizer's presence (88), de-stabilize the colonial subjectivity, presence (88), de-stabilize the colonial subjectivity, unsettle its authoritative centrality, and corrupt its unsettle its authoritative centrality, and corrupt its discursive purity. Actually, he adds, mimicry discursive purity. Actually, he adds, mimicry repeats repeats rather than rather than re-presentsre-presents....(author's emphases ), and in ....(author's emphases ), and in that very act of repetition, originality is lost, and that very act of repetition, originality is lost, and centrality de-centred. centrality de-centred.

Mimicry, Ambivalence and HybridityMimicry, Ambivalence and Hybridity

What is left, according to Bhabha, is the trace, the impure, the What is left, according to Bhabha, is the trace, the impure, the artificial, the second-hand. Bhabha analyses the slippages in artificial, the second-hand. Bhabha analyses the slippages in colonial political discourse, and reveals that the janus-faced colonial political discourse, and reveals that the janus-faced attitudes towards the colonized lead to the production of a attitudes towards the colonized lead to the production of a mimicry that presents itself more in the form of a "menace " mimicry that presents itself more in the form of a "menace " than "resemblance"; more in the form of a rupture than than "resemblance"; more in the form of a rupture than consolidation. consolidation.

Mimicry, Ambivalence and HybridityMimicry, Ambivalence and Hybridity

Mimicry is at once resemblance and menace. Mimicry is at once resemblance and menace.

The menace of mimicry is its double vision which in The menace of mimicry is its double vision which in disclosing the ambivalence of colonial discourse also disrupts disclosing the ambivalence of colonial discourse also disrupts its authority. And it is a double vision that is a result of what its authority. And it is a double vision that is a result of what I've described as the partial representation/recognition of the I've described as the partial representation/recognition of the colonial object. colonial object.

Bhabha, Of mimicry and ManBhabha, Of mimicry and Man

The effect of mimicry is camouflage.... It is not The effect of mimicry is camouflage.... It is not a question of harmonizing with the a question of harmonizing with the background, but against a mottled background, background, but against a mottled background, of becoming mottled - exactly like the of becoming mottled - exactly like the technique of camouflage practised in human technique of camouflage practised in human warfare. warfare.

Jacques Lacan, "The line and light', Jacques Lacan, "The line and light', Of the GazeOf the Gaze. .

Lacan reminds us, mimicry is like camouflage, not a Lacan reminds us, mimicry is like camouflage, not a harmonization of repression of difference, but a form of harmonization of repression of difference, but a form of resemblance, that differs from or defends presence by resemblance, that differs from or defends presence by displaying it in part, metonymically.displaying it in part, metonymically.

Bhabha, Of mimicry and ManBhabha, Of mimicry and Man

If we consider mimicry not only as a kind of colonial If we consider mimicry not only as a kind of colonial subjugation but also as a response of the colonized, shall we subjugation but also as a response of the colonized, shall we

connet mimicry toconnet mimicry to drag?drag?

At what point do we cross the line from mimicry to mockery?At what point do we cross the line from mimicry to mockery? Blog the obcureBlog the obcure

Questions Questions

Mimicry, as the metonymy of presence is, indeed, Mimicry, as the metonymy of presence is, indeed, such an erratic, eccentric strategy of authority in such an erratic, eccentric strategy of authority in colonial discourse.colonial discourse.

Bhabha, Of mimicry and ManBhabha, Of mimicry and Man

We can see that mimicry is the eccentric strategy of We can see that mimicry is the eccentric strategy of colonial authority but, the effect of mimicry is a colonial authority but, the effect of mimicry is a repetition that threats and de-constructs the colonizer repetition that threats and de-constructs the colonizer authorship. Is mimicry as a strategy of colonial authorship. Is mimicry as a strategy of colonial control or the activity of the colonized?control or the activity of the colonized?

Blog the obcureBlog the obcure

Do you think the concept of mimicry can be Do you think the concept of mimicry can be related to Heart of Darkness? Why?related to Heart of Darkness? Why?

Do you think the ambivalence between being Do you think the ambivalence between being Anglicized and being English is evident in Anglicized and being English is evident in A A passage to Indiapassage to India??

BibliographyBibliographyThe Location of CultureThe Location of Culture.  NY: Routledge, 1994.  NY: Routledge, 1994WebographyWebographyThe Literary Encyclopedia The Literary Encyclopedia http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5184http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5184Mimicry, Ambivalence and Hybridity Mimicry, Ambivalence and Hybridity http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/1WEBPAGE.HTMLhttp://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/1WEBPAGE.HTMLPhilosophy and LiteraturePhilosophy and Literature 19.1 (1995) 196-197 19.1 (1995) 196-197http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/philosophy_and_literature/v019/19.1http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/philosophy_and_literature/v019/19.1br_bhabha.htmlbr_bhabha.html

The ObscureThe Obscurehttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.livewild.orhttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.livewild.org/CostaRica/Pics/a6024.jpg&imgrefurl=http://g/CostaRica/Pics/a6024.jpg&imgrefurl=http://blogobscure.blogspot.com/2008/07/mimicry-and-whole-blogobscure.blogspot.com/2008/07/mimicry-and-whole-subjects.html&usg=__4AvvDhYk7tzbYN6_ATbzYVLAx5g=&hsubjects.html&usg=__4AvvDhYk7tzbYN6_ATbzYVLAx5g=&h=925&w=1188&sz=213&hl=it&s=925&w=1188&sz=213&hl=it&s

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