Post-Colonial Literature

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Post-Colonial Literature
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Contents
1. POST-COLONIAL LITERATURE..................................................................................................................... 2
2. IMPERIALISM............................................................................................................................................. 2
2.1 DEFINITION....................................................................................................................................................... 2
2.2 FEATURES OF IMPERIALISM...................................................................................................................................2
2.2.1 Expansionism........................................................................................................................................2
2.2.2 Unequal power relations......................................................................................................................2
2.2.3 Justification.......................................................................................................................................... 2
2.2.4 Resistance.............................................................................................................................................2
2.3 EXAMPLES OF IMPERIALISM..................................................................................................................................2
2.3.1 British Empire (18th-20th centuries).....................................................................................................2
2.3.2 French Empire (17th-20th centuries)....................................................................................................2
2.3.3 Ottoman Empire (13th-20th centuries).................................................................................................2
2.3.4 Japanese Empire (19th-20th centuries)................................................................................................2
3. COLONIALISM............................................................................................................................................ 2
3.1 DEFINITION....................................................................................................................................................... 2
3.2 FEATURES OF COLONIALISM..................................................................................................................................2
3.2.1 Direct Rule............................................................................................................................................2
3.2.2 Focus on Power and Gain.....................................................................................................................2
3.2.3 Unequal Relationship............................................................................................................................2
3.2.4 Cultural Imposition...............................................................................................................................3
3.3 EXAMPLES OF COLONIALISM.................................................................................................................................3
3.3.1 British Raj in India.................................................................................................................................3
3.3.2 French colonies in Africa.......................................................................................................................3
3.3.3 Belgian Congo Free State......................................................................................................................3
3.3.4 Spanish colonization of the Americas...................................................................................................3
4. NEOCOLONIALISM..................................................................................................................................... 4
4.1 DEFINITION....................................................................................................................................................... 4
4.2 KEY FEATURES................................................................................................................................................... 4
4.2.1 Indirect Control.....................................................................................................................................4
4.2.2 Economic Influence...............................................................................................................................4
4.2.3 Political Interference.............................................................................................................................4
4.2.4 Cultural Domination.............................................................................................................................4
4.3 EXAMPLES.........................................................................................................................................................4
4.3.1 Structural Adjustment Programs..........................................................................................................4
4.3.2 Land Grabs...........................................................................................................................................4
4.3.3 Debt Traps............................................................................................................................................4
4.3.4 Western Media Dominance..................................................................................................................4
5. POSTCOLONIALISM.................................................................................................................................... 5
5.1 DEFINITION....................................................................................................................................................... 5
5.2 KEY FEATURES................................................................................................................................................... 5
5.2.1 Critical Analysis.....................................................................................................................................5
5.2.2 Focus on Hybridity................................................................................................................................5
5.2.3 Emphasis on Subaltern Voices..............................................................................................................5
5.2.4 Promoting Self-Determination..............................................................................................................5
5.3 EXAMPLES.........................................................................................................................................................5
5.3.1 Literature..............................................................................................................................................5
5.3.2 Theory.................................................................................................................................................. 5
6. 1935-2003 EDWARD SAID........................................................................................................................... 6
6.1 BIOGRAPHY.......................................................................................................................................................6
6.2 ORIENTALISM.....................................................................................................................................................6
6.2.1 Orientalism...........................................................................................................................................6
6.2.2 Colonial Discourse................................................................................................................................6
6.2.3 Resistance, Opposition, and Representation........................................................................................6
6.2.4 Colonial and Postcolonial Identities......................................................................................................7

1. Post-Colonial Literature
 Postcolonial literature is the literature by people from formerly colonized countries,
originating from all continents except Antarctica.
 Postcolonial literature often addresses the problems and consequences of the decolonization
of a country, especially questions relating to the political and cultural independence of
formerly subjugated people, and themes such as racialism and colonialism.
2. Imperialism
2.1 Definition
 Imperialism is the practice, theory, or attitude of a powerful country establishing dominion,
direct or indirect, over weaker territories and peoples.

2.2 Features of Imperialism


2.2.1 Expansionism
 The primary goal of imperialism is to extend a country's power and influence beyond its
borders. This can be achieved through territorial acquisition, economic dominance, or
cultural influence.

2.2.2 Unequal power relations


 Imperialism is inherently based on an unequal power dynamic between the imperial power
and the subjugated territories. This imbalance allows the imperial power to exploit resources,
enforce policies, and control economies for its own benefit.

2.2.3 Justification
 Imperial powers often justify their actions through various ideologies, such as civilizing
missions, spreading religion, or securing strategic resources. These justifications are often
self-serving and mask the true economic and political motives behind imperialism.

2.2.4 Resistance
 Throughout history, colonized peoples have resisted imperial rule through various forms of
protest, rebellion, and independence movements.
2.3 Examples of Imperialism
2.3.1 British Empire (18th-20th centuries)
 The British Empire was the largest empire in history, encompassing territories across the
globe. The British used methods like military conquest, economic dominance, and cultural
assimilation to maintain their control.

2.3.2 French Empire (17th-20th centuries)


 The French Empire was another major European power during this period, colonizing vast
areas of Africa, Asia, and North America. The French employed a similar mix of military and
economic strategies to expand their empire.

2.3.3 Ottoman Empire (13th-20th centuries)


 The Ottoman Empire, based in Turkey, established a vast empire encompassing parts of
Europe, Asia, and Africa. Their expansion was driven by military conquest and religious
control, spreading Islam throughout their territories.

2.3.4 Japanese Empire (19th-20th centuries)


 The Japanese Empire rapidly expanded in the early 20th century, colonizing parts of China,
Korea, and Southeast Asia. They employed aggressive military tactics and economic
imperialism to secure their dominance.
 These are just a few examples of the countless historical and contemporary forms of
imperialism. It's important to recognize the lasting impact of imperialism on global politics,
economics, and cultural structures. The legacies of these systems continue to influence our
world today, and understanding imperialism remains crucial for critically analyzing
international relations and the on-going struggle for global justice.
3. Colonialism
3.1 Definition
 Colonialism refers to the establishment and maintenance of direct political control by a
stronger nation (the colonizer) over a territory and its people (the colonized).

3.2 Features of Colonialism


3.2.1 Direct Rule
 Unlike neocolonialism which operates through indirect influence, colonialism involves the
colonizer directly governing the colonized territory.

3.2.2 Focus on Power and Gain


 The main motivation for colonialism is often territorial expansion, resource extraction, and
economic gain for the colonizer.

3.2.3 Unequal Relationship


 Colonialism creates a stark power imbalance, with the colonizer dominating the political,
economic, and social life of the colonized.
3.2.4 Cultural Imposition
 Colonizers often attempt to reshape the colonized society in their own image, introducing
their language, religion, and customs.

3.3 Examples of Colonialism


3.3.1 British Raj in India
 From the 17th to the 20th century, the British Empire ruled over India, exploiting its
resources and imposing its administrative and legal systems.

3.3.2 French colonies in Africa


 During the 19th and 20th centuries, France established colonies across Africa, extracting
resources like rubber and ivory and exploiting local labor.

3.3.3 Belgian Congo Free State


 This brutal period of Belgian rule in the Congo (1885-1908) was marked by extreme
exploitation of resources and forced labor, resulting in widespread death and suffering.

3.3.4 Spanish colonization of the Americas


 Starting in the 15th century, Spain conquered and colonized vast territories in the Americas,
displacing indigenous populations and establishing its own rule for centuries.
4. Neocolonialism
4.1 Definition
 Neocolonialism describes the indirect control of a former colony by a developed nation
through economic, political, and cultural influence.
 Unlike the direct political rule of colonialism, neocolonialism operates more subtly,
leveraging power imbalances within global systems to maintain advantageous relationships.

4.2 Key Features


4.2.1 Indirect Control
 While nominally independent, former colonies may remain economically dependent on
developed nations, struggling with unfair trade, debt burdens, and limited access to resources.

4.2.2 Economic Influence


 Multinational corporations often play a pivotal role, extracting resources and exploiting
cheap labor in developing countries, enriching themselves while perpetuating local poverty.

4.2.3 Political Interference


 Neocolonial powers may exert influence through international institutions like the IMF and
World Bank, imposing policies that disproportionately benefit them. Additionally, covert
operations and interventions can manipulate political landscapes.

4.2.4 Cultural Domination


 Western media, education systems, and language can infiltrate former colonies, influencing
values, norms, and identities, potentially undermining local cultures and fostering
dependency.

4.3 Examples
4.3.1 Structural Adjustment Programs
 Imposed by the IMF and World Bank, these programs often require developing countries to
adopt austerity measures, privatize sectors, and deregulate markets, often leading to increased
poverty and inequality.

4.3.2 Land Grabs


 Large-scale land acquisitions by foreign companies in developing countries can displace
local communities, disrupt traditional livelihoods, and reduce food security.

4.3.3 Debt Traps


 Predatory lending practices by developed nations can leave former colonies in crippling debt
cycles, further undermining their sovereignty and economic autonomy.

4.3.4 Western Media Dominance


 The prevalence of Western news outlets and cultural products in developing countries can
drown out local voices and narratives, perpetuating stereotypes and hindering cultural
independence.
5. Postcolonialism
5.1 Definition
 Postcolonialism refers to the intellectual and historical field examining the long-term legacies
of colonialism on formerly colonized nations.
 Postcolonialism is not a form of imperialism.
 It challenges both colonialism and neocolonialism.
 It focuses on decolonization and resistance.

5.2 Key Features


5.2.1 Critical Analysis
 Postcolonial scholars deconstruct Eurocentric interpretations of history and challenge the
dominant narratives imposed by colonizers.
5.2.2 Focus on Hybridity
 They recognize the complex cultural blending and intermixing that occurred during
colonization, moving beyond simplistic binaries of colonizer and colonized.

5.2.3 Emphasis on Subaltern Voices


 Postcolonialism prioritizes the experiences and perspectives of marginalized groups often
silenced under colonial rule, including indigenous communities, women, and people of color.

5.2.4 Promoting Self-Determination


 It champions the right of former colonies to define their own cultural identities, political
systems, and development paths.

5.3 Examples
5.3.1 Literature
 Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" critiques the cultural impact of British colonialism in
Nigeria.
 Gabriel García Márquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" explores the political and
economic legacies of Spanish rule in Latin America.

5.3.2 Theory
 Edward Said's "Orientalism" exposes how Western representations of the East were used to
justify colonial domination.
 Gayatri Spivak's "Can the Subaltern Speak?" examines the challenges of representing the
voices of marginalized groups.
6. 1935-2003 Edward Said
6.1 Biography
 Edward Said was of Christian Palestinian descent. Born on November 1, 1935, in
Jerusalem, which was then part of British-administered Mandatory Palestine, Said later
moved to the United States. He became a prominent intellectual, literary theorist, and
cultural critic.
 Edward Said is best known for his ground-breaking work "Orientalism," published in 1978.
(The term "Oriental" historically referred to the East, and it has been used to describe regions
and cultures that are geographically to the east of Europe.)
 Apart from his work on Orientalism, Said was a professor of English and Comparative
Literature at Columbia University. He was also an advocate for Palestinian rights and a
public intellectual who engaged in discussions on a wide range of topics, including literature,
politics, and the Middle East conflict.

6.2 Orientalism
 In this influential work, Said critically examines the way in which the West has historically
represented the East, particularly the Middle East and Asia. Here are some key concepts
associated with Edward Said's work:

6.2.1 Orientalism
 Orientalism is a Western way of thinking that creates a distinction between "the Orient"
(Eastern cultures) and "the Occident" (Western cultures).
 Edward Said's central concept of "Orientalism" highlights how Western scholars, writers, and
artists have formed a distorted and stereotypical image of the East.
 Orientalism involves a biased perspective that often oversimplifies and misrepresents Eastern
cultures.
 Said's exploration challenges the validity and impact of Orientalist viewpoints.

6.2.2 Colonial Discourse


 Said examines how Orientalism is deeply rooted in colonial discourse, which encompasses
the language, literature, and scholarship used to justify and legitimize colonial rule.
 This discourse not only acts as a tool for control but also contributes to the creation of a
distinct colonial identity.
 Colonial discourse serves as a means of maintaining authority over colonized territories.
 It shapes the narrative of colonialism, influencing perceptions and attitudes towards the
colonized.

6.2.3 Resistance, Opposition, and Representation


 Said discusses how colonized subjects often resist and oppose colonial rule, challenging the
representations created by Orientalist discourse.
 Emphasis is placed on examining how colonized people represent themselves, offering
alternative narratives that counter dominant Western perspectives.
 The agency of colonized individuals is acknowledged in resisting oppressive colonial
structures.
 Representational resistance becomes a crucial aspect of challenging stereotypes and
reclaiming identity.

6.2.4 Colonial and Postcolonial Identities


 Said's work contributes to understanding colonial and postcolonial identities. Colonial
identities are shaped by the power dynamics established by the colonizers, while postcolonial
identities emerge in response to and resistance against colonial legacies.
 A critical examination of how identities are constructed, deconstructed, and reconstructed in
the postcolonial context is encouraged.
 Colonial identities reflect the imbalances of power during the colonial era.
 Postcolonial identities involve a complex process of grappling with historical legacies and
redefining cultural self-perceptions.
7. Syllabus
Contents:
• Key Terms
i) Colonialism, Postcolonialism, Neocolonialism, Imperialism
• Key Theorists
ii) Edward Said: Orientalism, Colonial Discourse, Resistance Opposition and
Representation, Colonial and Postcolonial Identities
iii) Homi K. Bhabha: Hybridity, Ambivalence, Mimicry, Cultural Diversity and
Cultural Difference, 3rd Space
iv) Spivak: Can the Subaltern Speak?
v) Frantz Fanon: Native Intellectual and Decolonization
• Postcolonial Feminism
• Postcolonialism and Postmodernism
• Cultural Identities and Diaspora
• Language and Decolonization

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