‘Post colonialism’ is too complex as a term, hence its resistance to a single exact definition. In this report, the writer attempts to present a simple (but not simplistic) definition of what post colonialism is as well as presenting an overall view of some key figures of Postcolonial studies namely Edward Said, Homi K. Bhabha and Frantz Fanon. When trying to define post colonialism, it is almost inevitable to invoke colonialism. What is colonialism? According to the New World Encyclopedia “Colonialism is the extension of a nation's sovereignty over territory beyond its borders.” It is “a practice of domination, which involves the subjugation of one people to another” (Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). The White Man’s Burden is one of …show more content…
Though colonialism in its traditional sense has come to an end, colonialism is very much alive. This idea can be explained in terms of: How the colonizing culture penetrated the colonized culture to the extent that the limits demarcating each culture became blurred. Moreover, it can be explained in terms of how the west was and is still acting as a sort of international police force which signifies that it does still monopolize the ‘center’ position. A case in point is the invasion of Iraq. Patrick Williams & Laura Chrisman (1994) expressed this idea differently: “If colonialism is a way of maintaining an unequal international relation of economic and political power, then no doubt we have not fully transcended the colonial” (Intro., p 4). In other words there is a need to reconsider the traditional definition of colonialism, a need to redefine it so as to include other aspects of it (not simply viewing it in territorial and military terms). Another instance illustrating how colonialism is not yet dead is the so called ‘Israel.’ Zionist Jews purported religious claims to legalize their settlement in Palestine as well as the dreadful atrocities they committed against Palestinian natives in order for them to establish what they called …show more content…
He is best known for his Orientalism (Orientalism, 1978). Orientalism, as defined by Said, is ‘the ensembles through which the East was, and is, produced as alien, exotic-and inferior.’ A typical example of Orientalism is Disney's Aladdin (Film, 1992) . In Aladdin, Orientalism is expressed both covertly and overtly: It is manifested covertly in the depiction of good guys – fair skinned, Caucasian features, American accent as opposed to bad guys – dark skinned, Semitic noses and foreign accents. Strikingly overt is how it is foregrounded in the introduction song: “it’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home[!]” (Aladdin, 1992). Therefore, it is well justified to argue that the film, replete with stereotypical oriental characters as it is, not only distorts the image of the Orientals, but also promotes prejudice and Xenophobia . Thus, one can argue that it is a means to indoctrinate the ‘common sense’ about the East as the ‘other’-with all the pejorative connotations that the term carries- (Orientalism, 1978) to children. It then aims to sustain the established
Post-colonialism is a discourse draped in history. In one point in time or another, European colonialism dominated most non-European lands since the end of the Renaissance. Naturally, colonialists depicted the cultures of non-Europeans incorrectly and inferior. Traditionally, the canon has misappropriated and misrepresented these cultures, but also the Western academia has yet to teach us the valuable and basic lessons that allow true representations to develop. Partly in response, Post-colonialism arose. Though this term is a broad one, Post-colonialists generally agree on certain key principles. They understand that colonialism exploits the dominated people or country in one way or another, evoking inequalities. Examples of past inequalities include “genocide, economic exploitation, cultural decimation and political exclusion…” (Loomba 9-10). They abhor traditional colonialism but also believe that every people, through the context of their own cultures, have something to contribute to our understanding of human nature (Loomba 1-20). This is the theme that Lewis prescribes in his, self described, “satirical fantasy”, Out of the Silent Planet (Of Other 77).
Rajan, R. S. (n.d.). Concepts in postcolonial theory: Diaspora, exile, migration . Retrieved from http://english.fas.nyu.edu/docs/IO/10743/G41.2900fall09.pdf
The cornerstone that anti-colonialism was built upon in the years after World War II is the general consensus among the world that each man and woman is entitled to a basic level of freedom to live their lives that is not unique to any one nation. This ideal is solidified in the preamble of
Colonialism is done through imperialism, which is defined as “the political, military, or economic domination of one country over another” (Encarta). This is the highlighted them in both the Avatar and Tarzan
Post-colonialism expresses the opposite idea of colonialism. Hence, post-colonialism literature is a consequence of colonialism. Post-colonialism continues to be a process of hostility and reform. One scholar suggested that although most countries have gained independence from their colonizers, they are still indirectly subjected in one way or another to the forms of neo-colonial domination. (Ashcroft et al.
We analyzed an uncontrollable and in sense monster called colonialism. Aime Cesaire 's work provides the perspective of the colonized and " identifies the root of European and American violence within the founding acts of international colonialism." The violence and exploitation of slaves for economic means explains his point that "no one colonizes innocently" (Cesaire 1972). American History doesn 't show us these harsh realities of colonialism, dry scholarly text fails to describe the societies that were drained of their natural resources, land taken away, and every aspect of cultural lifestyles destroyed. This brutally honest history makes me define colonialism in a different way. Forceful control is a more accurate portrayal of colonizing. When I read Kristian William 's article " The Demand for Order and and Birth of Modern Policing" it was more clear to me in a modern context. I found it interesting to read when he said; ".. the greatest portion of the actual business of law enforcement did not concern protection of life and property, but the controlling of poor people." Because a system was constructed to racially disadvantage some people, their lack of opportunities and stumped life chances has kept them down in poverty, where the white supremacy can control
Today colonialism is still active, known as Neocolonialism, which has devastating effects on global cultural groups. To begin, the term colonialism is defined in the dictionary as “control by one country over another and its people”. Throughout history colonialism has confounded and damaged numerous cultures and people. Indigenous people have undergone a series of massive modifications to their culture as well as spiritual beliefs and morals and obligations they’ve held since before the first coming of Western cultures. In regards to this, there are many concerns of loss of culture among several different groups.
Postcolonial criticism, as suggested in the textbook, “has developed because of the dramatic shrinking of the world and the increasing multicultural cast of our own country” (1603). As described by Andrea Smith in his book “From Heteropatriarchy and the Three pillars of White Supremacy”, “The
This essay will be about a comparative study of the representation of colonialism as a positive or negative force. The texts that are being used are my core text ‘Heart of Darkness’ by Joseph Conrad and ‘Collected Poems’ by Rudyard Kipling. The partner text will be ‘Swami and Friends’ by R. K. Narayan.
In this paper feminist aspect of post colonization will be studied in “Season of Migration to the North” novel by Tayeb Salih. Postcolonial feminism can be defined as seeks to compute for the way that racism and the long-lasting economic, cultural, and political influences of colonialism affect non-white, non-Western women in the postcolonial world, according to Oxford dictionary. As it mentioned earlier about the application of Feminism theory in literature, the provided definition of postcolonial feminism also is not applicable in literature analysis. Therefore, Oxford defines another applic...
Postcolonialism is the continual shedding of the old skin of Western thought and discourse, and the emergence of new self-awareness, critique, and celebration. With this self-awareness comes self-expression. But how should the inhabitants of a colonial territory, or formerly colonized country or province see themselves, once they have achieved their independence?... ... middle of paper ...
the prefix "post"....implies an "aftermath" in two senses - temporal, as in coming after, and ideological, as in supplanting. It is the second implication which critics of the term have found contestable: if the inequities of colonial rule have not been erased, it is perhaps premature to proclaim the demise of colonialism. A country may be both postcolonial (in the sense of being formally independent) and neo-colonial (in the sense of remaining economically and/or culturally dependant) at the same time. (7)
All the countries deemed as third world has had a history of colonial rule, most were exploited through colonialism, imperialism, neo colonialism etc. while the third world countries were annexed and had direct government of a first country through colonialism; it was seen as a cost by the imperial powers rather than a benefit and one that was unavoidable. Imperialism was creating the condition for industrial capitalism and a modern nation-state and would produce the same consequences as it had of the colonizers i.e. the development of the society’s productive force s and misery and degradation for its workers. It failed to complete the institution of private property, and drained the colonies of capital while enforcing the dependence on agriculture to supply the needs of the industrial world. Neo – colonialism appeared on the outside to grant the c...
Aschcroft, Bill, Gareth Griffiths and Helen Tiffin, eds. 'The Post-Colonial Studies Reader'. London; Routledge, 1995.
Colonialism was a concept of superiority of one territory over another; it was a concept that originated centuries ago. Colonialism had been put into action throughout a long line of history and did not end after World War II in 1945. Even with resistance and efforts from independent states after the war, colonialism did not disappear and continued as a dominant system. It remained and changed its form, resulted in the process of globalization, which continued to control over newly independent states following World War II. Globalization, a form of colonialism, maintained power for the system over states or regions through economic terms with the development of the World Bank, and its derivation of structural adjustments. This financial institution was formed and contributed to colonialism; it assisted in the economic affairs of colonized nation(s). Along with class, professor Manfred B. Steger's book, Globalization: A Very Short Introduction, and I.B. Logan and Kidane Mengisteab's article, "IMF – World Bank Adjustment and Structural Transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa," discussed the indirect rule of colonial powers through globalization.