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    Postcolonial Theory is a lens for analyzing life after foreign rule. It focuses on the oppression experienced by populations that were ruled under colonialism, including political, economic, social, cultural and psychological oppression. Postcolonial theorists examine how colonizers imposed their own values on colonized peoples and explored processes of resistance against colonial powers. The aftermath of colonialism involved issues of cultural hybridization, double consciousness, and feelings of exile for colonized populations.

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    Postcolonial Theory is a lens for analyzing life after foreign rule. It focuses on the oppression experienced by populations that were ruled under colonialism, including political, economic, social, cultural and psychological oppression. Postcolonial theorists examine how colonizers imposed their own values on colonized peoples and explored processes of resistance against colonial powers. The aftermath of colonialism involved issues of cultural hybridization, double consciousness, and feelings of exile for colonized populations.

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    Postcolonial Theory is a lens for analyzing life after foreign rule. It focuses on the oppression experienced by populations that were ruled under colonialism, including political, economic, social, cultural and psychological oppression. Postcolonial theorists examine how colonizers imposed their own values on colonized peoples and explored processes of resistance against colonial powers. The aftermath of colonialism involved issues of cultural hybridization, double consciousness, and feelings of exile for colonized populations.

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    2K views22 pages

    Post Colonial Theory

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    Postcolonial Theory is a lens for analyzing life after foreign rule. It focuses on the oppression experienced by populations that were ruled under colonialism, including political, economic, social, cultural and psychological oppression. Postcolonial theorists examine how colonizers imposed their own values on colonized peoples and explored processes of resistance against colonial powers. The aftermath of colonialism involved issues of cultural hybridization, double consciousness, and feelings of exile for colonized populations.

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    of 22
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    Some of the key takeaways from the document are that postcolonial theory examines the oppression experienced by colonized peoples and analyzes the processes of decolonization and their lasting impacts.

    Colonialism is defined as the extension of a nation's rule over territory beyond its borders and the subjection of one population to the political domination of another population.

    Some of the factors that contributed to colonialism included social Darwinism, Eurocentrism, the belief that colonialism was natural, and the 'White Man's Burden' philosophy of civilizing non-European peoples.

    Postcolonial Theory

    A theory on and lens for


    life after foreign rule.
    Before we begin
    ‡ If you don’t already have them out, get
    out your notebooks and pens.

    ‡ You will be responsible for knowing this


    information, as it will show up on your
    exams and/or paper assignments.

    ‡ Once again, this is for your benefit so


    please pay attention.
    What puts the “post” in Postcolonialism?
    ‡ Considering “post” is a prefix meaning
    after, we need to first discuss the history
    behind colonialism.

    ‡ What is colonialism?

    „ An extension of a nations rule over territory


    beyond its borders
    „ A population that is subjected to the political
    domination of another population
    To provide some context
    ‡ This is the world at what is considered the height
    of colonialism. What do you notice?
    Why were people colonized?
    ‡ Social Darwinism
    „ Eurocentrism
    „ Universalism
    „ Colonialism is nature

    ‡ White Man’s Burden


    „ What was thought to be an obligation to
    “civilize” non-European peoples
    A cartoon to emphasize the point
    ‡ What is going on here? What do you notice?
    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
    Ok, so what is POSTcolonialism?
    ‡ Postcolonial theory attempts to focus on
    the oppression of those who were ruled
    under colonization.

    ‡ Factors include
    „ Political oppression
    „ Economic oppression
    „ Social/cultural oppression
    „ Psychological oppression
    Who are the oppressed?
    ‡ Those who were formerly colonized.

    ‡ In postcolonial theory, the word colonized


    can mean many things.
    „ Literal colonization
    „ More abstract “colonization”
    ‡ African-Americans
    ‡ Native Americans in the United States
    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
    What’s going on here?
    Political divisions of Africa
    How did the oppressed escape?
    ‡ Postcolonial theorists also analyze the
    processes by which those who were
    colonized resisted the colonizers
    „ Examples?
    „ Haiti
    „ South Africa
    „ India
    Otherism
    ‡ Postcolonial theorists also try to identify
    examples in which the colonized and their
    values were “otherized”
    „ What does “otherism” mean?
    „ Us-civilized-Western
    „ Them-the others-colonized
    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 write
    “great works?”
    „ If so, did they have the opportunities to spread
    their words like the colonized did?
    Orientalism
    ‡ A concept introduced by Edward Said (1978)
    „ Attempted to explain how the European/Western
    colonizers looked upon the “Orient”
    „ What is the Orient?
    „ A mystical place that was stereotyped due to lack
    of knowledge and imagination
    „ A “lumping” together of Asia
    ‡ Examples?
    „ Literature helped perpetuate this
    ‡ Lawrence of Arabia
    An example of Orientalism
    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 and
    during colonization and what emerged as a
    result
    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)
    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
    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 Cuckoo’s Nest
    „ Frankenstein’s “monster”
    Refer to your packet!
    ‡ Make sure to refer to the packet for more
    ideas about how you can view works from
    a postcolonial lens

    ‡ Questions?

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