English Lit 101: Literary Criticism - Postcolonial Criticism Orientalism Said Subaltern Spivak Hybridity Bhabha Colonial Discourse Resistance Diaspora Nationalism

What It Is

Postcolonial criticism is a literary theory that examines the impact of colonialism on literature, culture, and identity. It critiques the dominant narratives of colonial powers and highlights the experiences of marginalized communities. A canonical example is Edward Said's "Orientalism" (1978), which challenges the Western representation of the Middle East. This matter is crucial for literary analysis as it reveals the power dynamics and cultural biases embedded in texts.

Key Terms & Concepts

• Postcolonialism: A critical theory that examines the legacy of colonialism and its impact on literature and culture.
  • Example: Salman Rushdie's "Midnight's Children" (1981) is a postcolonial novel that explores India's transition to independence.
• Orientalism: A term coined by Edward Said to describe the Western representation of the Middle East as exotic and inferior.
  • Example: In Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" (1899), the character Marlow's perception of Africa is an example of Orientalism.
• Subaltern: A term used by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak to describe marginalized groups, particularly women, who are silenced or excluded from dominant narratives.
  • Example: In Mahasweta Devi's "Draupadi" (1984), the character of Binodini is a subaltern figure who challenges the patriarchal norms of her community.
• Hybridity: A concept developed by Homi K. Bhabha to describe the blending of cultures and identities in postcolonial societies.
  • Example: In Toni Morrison's "Beloved" (1987), the character of Sethe embodies hybridity as she navigates her African and American identities.
• Colonial Discourse: A term used to describe the language and narratives used by colonial powers to justify their dominance over colonized peoples.
  • Example: In Rudyard Kipling's "The White Man's Burden" (1899), the poem is an example of colonial discourse that justifies British imperialism.
• Resistance: A concept used to describe the ways in which colonized peoples resist and challenge colonial power.
  • Example: In Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" (1958), the character of Okonkwo's resistance to British colonialism is a key theme.
• Diaspora: A term used to describe the dispersal of people from their homeland, often as a result of colonialism or forced migration.
  • Example: In Jamaica Kincaid's "A Small Place" (1988), the author reflects on her own experience of diaspora as a Caribbean immigrant in the United States.
• Nationalism: A concept used to describe the promotion of national identity and interests, often in opposition to colonialism.
  • Example: In Rabindranath Tagore's "Gitanjali" (1910), the poet explores the tension between Indian nationalism and British colonialism.
• Decolonization: A term used to describe the process of dismantling colonial power and promoting independence.
  • Example: In Frantz Fanon's "The Wretched of the Earth" (1961), the author argues for the need for decolonization in Africa.
• Cultural Imperialism: A term used to describe the imposition of one culture over another, often through colonialism or globalization.
  • Example: In Ngugi wa Thiong'o's "Decolonising the Mind" (1986), the author critiques the cultural imperialism of colonialism and globalization.

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: Postcolonialism is a movement that seeks to promote colonialism.
• Correction: Postcolonialism is a critical theory that critiques the legacy of colonialism and promotes decolonization.
• Misunderstanding: Orientalism is a term that describes the positive representation of the Middle East in Western literature.
• Correction: Orientalism is a term that describes the negative and exotic representation of the Middle East in Western literature.
• Misunderstanding: Hybridity is a concept that describes the blending of cultures in postcolonial societies, but it is not a key concept in postcolonial theory.
• Correction: Hybridity is a key concept in postcolonial theory, developed by Homi K. Bhabha, that describes the blending of cultures and identities in postcolonial societies.

Quick Application / Identification

1. Identify the concept of Orientalism in the following excerpt from Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" (1899): "The wilderness was a vast, silent, and mysterious forest, full of hidden dangers and unseen terrors." What is the author's attitude towards Africa?
   • Answer: The author's attitude towards Africa is one of fear and exoticism, which is an example of Orientalism.
2. Identify the concept of hybridity in the following excerpt from Toni Morrison's "Beloved" (1987): "Sethe's eyes were a deep, dark brown, like the rich soil of the African continent, but they were also a pale, washed-out blue, like the sky on a cloudy day." What is the significance of Sethe's eyes?
   • Answer: The significance of Sethe's eyes is that they embody the blending of African and American cultures, which is an example of hybridity.
3. Identify the concept of resistance in the following excerpt from Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" (1958): "Okonkwo's anger was like a storm that raged through the village, destroying everything in its path." What is the significance of Okonkwo's anger?
   • Answer: The significance of Okonkwo's anger is that it is a form of resistance to British colonialism, which is a key theme in the novel.

Last?Minute Revision

• Edward Said's "Orientalism" (1978) is a seminal work of postcolonial theory.
• Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak's concept of the subaltern is a key concept in postcolonial theory.
• Homi K. Bhabha's concept of hybridity is a key concept in postcolonial theory.
• Decolonization is the process of dismantling colonial power and promoting independence.
• Cultural imperialism is the imposition of one culture over another, often through colonialism or globalization.
• Postcolonialism is a critical theory that critiques the legacy of colonialism and promotes decolonization.
• Orientalism is a term that describes the negative and exotic representation of the Middle East in Western literature.
• Hybridity is a concept that describes the blending of cultures and identities in postcolonial societies.
• Resistance is a concept used to describe the ways in which colonized peoples resist and challenge colonial power.
• Diaspora is a term used to describe the dispersal of people from their homeland, often as a result of colonialism or forced migration.
• Nationalism is a concept used to describe the promotion of national identity and interests, often in opposition to colonialism.
• Frantz Fanon's "The Wretched of the Earth" (1961) is a key work of postcolonial theory.
• Ngugi wa Thiong'o's "Decolonising the Mind" (1986) is a key work of postcolonial theory.
• Salman Rushdie's "Midnight's Children" (1981) is a postcolonial novel that explores India's transition to independence.