Postcolonialism Criticism
Postcolonialism is a complex field that examines the literature emerging from societies that experienced colonial rule, with a particular focus on themes of race, power, and identity. While traditionally defined as a period following colonialism, some argue that postcolonial literature includes works produced during colonial times that oppose imperialist ideologies, as explained in Once More with Feeling: What Is Postcolonialism?. This literature often addresses the injustices of racism, slavery, and genocide, such as apartheid and the mass extinction of indigenous peoples, thereby challenging colonial and Eurocentric narratives. The scope of postcolonialism is broad, encompassing various geographical and cultural contexts, which leads to diverse literary expressions. As Rethinking the Problem of Postcolonialism suggests, this diversity has prompted some critics to argue for the inclusion of literatures from nations like Canada, the United States, and Australia under the postcolonial umbrella. Simon During emphasizes the need for postcolonial societies to form identities free from imperialist influences, while other critics, like Mythologies of Migrancy: Postcolonialism, Postmodernism and the Politics of (Dis)Location, note a shift from nationalist narratives to themes of delegitimation in postcolonial works. The intersection of postcolonialism with feminism is also significant, especially for women writers in patriarchal cultures. These authors see language as an empowering tool to counteract marginalization, as discussed by Caribbean Women's Writing. Critics like Wisker note the potential for postcolonial writing to provoke feelings of guilt or complicity among readers, reflecting on the broader implications of colonial legacies. As pointed out by African Literatures and Postcolonialism: Projections into the Twenty-First Century, recent works also critique native figures seen as perpetrators of a new form of imperialism. Ultimately, postcolonial literature remains a vibrant and evolving field that not only revisits historical injustices but also confronts contemporary issues of identity, power, and resistance across a spectrum of global cultures.
Contents
- Representative Works
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Criticism: Overviews And General Studies
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Once More with Feeling: What Is Postcolonialism?
(summary)
In the following essay, Bahri provides an overview of the concept of postcolonialism, including a brief survey of various definitions of the subject.
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Rethinking the Problem of Postcolonialism
(summary)
In the following essay, Xie presents a review of theories surrounding postcolonialism, making a distinction between postcolonial literatures and Third World writing.
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Once More with Feeling: What Is Postcolonialism?
(summary)
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Criticism: African Postcolonial Literature
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African Literatures and Postcolonialism: Projections into the Twenty-First Century
(summary)
In the following essay, Na'Allah examines the themes permeating African postcolonial writing, noting that in addition to its continued focus on issues of protest on maintaining African values, recent African postcolonial literature also indicts native people perceived as perpetrators of African's own imperialism.
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Constructions of Apartheid in the International Reception of the Novels of J. M. Coetzee
(summary)
In the following essay, Barnett discusses critical reception of South African literature in the context of novelist J. M. Coetzee's works, noting that South African writing has often been reviewed with an abstract and moralized understanding of the nature of apartheid.
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African Literatures and Postcolonialism: Projections into the Twenty-First Century
(summary)
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Postcolonialism, Nationalism, and the Emergence of Asian/Pacific American Literatures
(summary)
In the following essay, Sumida examines the emergence of Hawaii's literatures as a postcolonial and cultural phenomenon.
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Criticism: Postcolonial Literary Theory
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Mythologies of Migrancy: Postcolonialism, Postmodernism and the Politics of (Dis)Location
(summary)
In the following essay, Krishnaswamy traces the ideological lineage of postcolonial theory, noting that postcolonial celebratory novels that focused on nationalism have given way to works of delegitimation.
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Postcolonialism, Ideology, and Native American Literature
(summary)
In the following essay, originally published in 1996, Krupat presents an overview of literary theory defining postcolonialism, placing Native American writing in this context.
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Is There History after Eurocentrism: Globalism, Postcolonialism, and the Disavowal of History
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In the following essay, Dirlik discusses Eurocentrism as a modern historical phenomenon that has influenced many postmodern movements, including postcolonialism.
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Mythologies of Migrancy: Postcolonialism, Postmodernism and the Politics of (Dis)Location
(summary)
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Criticism: Postcolonial Women's Writing
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Postcolonialism and Recent Women's Writing in Afrikaans: South African Literature in Transition
(summary)
In the following essay, Viljoen theorizes that postcolonial literature produced by Afrikaans women has evolved to address issues of apartheid as well as those of class and gender.
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Caribbean Women's Writing
(summary)
In the following essay, Wisker provides a brief history of Caribbean culture and writing, focusing on women's role and writing in the context of Caribbean culture.
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Postcolonialism and Recent Women's Writing in Afrikaans: South African Literature in Transition
(summary)
- Further Reading