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Students investigate literature from formerly colonized nations, focusing on identity, resistance, and cultural hybridity.
Imagine waking up in a world where your history is rewritten by strangers, and your own reflection feels like a 'foreign' object. How does literature help us reclaim an identity that was never supposed to exist?
At the heart of post-colonial theory is the concept of Othering. This is a power dynamic where the dominant colonial power (the 'Self') defines the colonized people as the Other—portraying them as irrational, exotic, or backwards to justify colonial rule. As Edward Said argued in Orientalism, this isn't just about prejudice; it is a systematic way of 'knowing' and controlling a population. By creating a binary where the West is the 'norm,' anything else becomes a deviation. In literature, look for descriptions that emphasize the 'strangeness' or 'savagery' of local customs; these are often tools of Othering used to maintain a hierarchy of power.
Quick Check
In the context of colonial literature, what is the primary purpose of 'Othering' a population?
Answer
To establish the colonizer as the 'norm' and justify political and cultural dominance by portraying the colonized as inferior or 'alien.'
When a colonial power imposes its language, education, and values on a nation, it practices Cultural Imperialism. This creates a deep psychological rift in the colonized subject. Frantz Fanon described this as a form of 'double consciousness,' where the individual sees themselves through the eyes of the colonizer. This often leads to an identity crisis, as the character feels caught between their ancestral heritage and the 'superior' culture they are forced to adopt. In post-colonial novels, this is frequently symbolized by characters who struggle with language—feeling that their native tongue is 'primitive' while the colonial language feels like a 'mask.'
1. A character in a novel is punished for speaking their native dialect at a colonial school. 2. The character begins to believe that their native language is incapable of expressing 'complex' thoughts. 3. This is a clear example of Cultural Imperialism, where the character's identity is being reshaped to favor the colonizer's worldview.
Quick Check
How does 'double consciousness' affect a character's sense of self?
Answer
It creates a fractured identity where the character views themselves through the biased, often negative lens of the dominant colonial culture.
Homi Bhabha introduced two transformative concepts: Mimicry and Hybridity. Mimicry occurs when the colonized subject adopts the habits and language of the colonizer. However, Bhabha notes this is 'almost the same, but not quite,' which creates a sense of mockery that unsettles the colonizer. Hybridity refers to the 'Third Space' where colonial and indigenous cultures collide to create something entirely new. Rather than being 'purely' one or the other, the post-colonial identity is a hybrid. This is not a sign of defeat, but a form of resistance, as it defies the simple binaries (Us vs. Them) that colonialism relies upon.
1. Consider a poem written in English but using the rhythmic structures and metaphors of an indigenous oral tradition. 2. The poet is not simply 'copying' English; they are subverting it. 3. This creates a Hybrid text that exists in the 'Third Space,' forcing the English reader to engage with a cultural logic that is not their own.
Analyze a scene where a colonized clerk dresses in a perfect European suit but uses the colonizer's formal etiquette to subtly insult his supervisor. 1. Identify the Mimicry: The clerk adopts the 'mask' of the colonizer. 2. Identify the Ambiguity: The supervisor feels uncomfortable because the clerk is 'too perfect,' making the colonial performance look like a parody. 3. Conclusion: The clerk uses the colonizer's own tools to undermine their authority, demonstrating the power of the 'almost but not quite.'
Which term describes the process of portraying a group as 'alien' or 'exotic' to maintain a power hierarchy?
According to Homi Bhabha, why is 'Mimicry' a threat to colonial authority?
Hybridity in post-colonial theory suggests that a culture must remain 'pure' to effectively resist colonial influence.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to explain the difference between 'Mimicry' and 'Hybridity' to a friend without looking at your notes.
Practice Activity
Find a news article or a movie review and look for instances of 'Othering'—how is the subject described as 'exotic' or 'different' from the implied norm?