post colonial theory ppt

8/8/2019 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?

post colonial theory ppt

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