Post-colonialism, Subaltern, Diaspora

and Globalization

Imaginary Identifications

Post colonialism

Subaltern Studies

Diaspora
Multiculturalism
Globalization

Imaginary identifications

Constructing identities through significant

others and collective narratives
The civilized Europeans identity cannot
exist without the uncivilized other eg.
the noble savage
Orientalism (Edward Said) the process
by which the Orient was constructed as an
exotic other.

The Self and the Other

Identity Self-concept, Social mores and

national understanding
Val Plumwoods categorization
Power Structures and Dualism
(manXwoman,superiorXinferior,humanxno
nhuman)
Denial or back grounding- minimization of
contribution to the master
Radical hyper separation negating the
value in the other (mind games)

The Self and the Other

Relational Definition the other is

defined in terms of what he/she does
not possess
Instrumentalization or objectification
(Use the services of the other- fulfill
the needs of the master)
Homogenization or stereotyping
stripped of all individuality

Key terms in Subaltern Studies

Colonialism The Imperialist

expansion of
Europe/dominant/centered/control/
extension of control over social,
pedagogical, economic, political and
broadly cultural exchanges
European mother nation vs
indigenous peoples
Racial inferiority vs Exotic otherness
Colonial markers (fair skin,
cricket,English)

Key Terms

Post-colonialism study of the effects of

colonialism/how did European nations
conquer and the responses of these
countries
An initial awareness of the social,
psychological and cultural inferiority
Enforced by being in a colonized state
The struggle for ethnic, cultural and
political autonomy
A growing awareness of cultural overlap
and hybridity

Key terms

Ambivalence mixed reactions

Alterity the state of being different
politically, culturally, linguistically
Agency agency is the capacity of
individuals to act independently and to
make their own free choices
Essentialism the essence of whatness
of something North IndianSouth Indian
etc.
Hegemony Power of the ruling class to
convince other classes that their interests
are the interests of all.

Key Terms

Mapping Mapping of global spaces. Maps

used as markers to assist the process of
aggression, boundaries, to establish
claims
Metanarrative a large cultural story that
seeks to explain within its borders all the
little local narratives
Nation/nation-state an aggregation of
people organized under a single
government/interests are geo-economic.

Key Terms

Nation/nation-state National
interest is associated with a struggle
for independent, ethnic and cultural
identity
Race the division and classification
of human beings by physical and
biological characteristics (often used
to denote power eg. White mans
burden, the Nazis and the Jews)

Key Terms

Semiotics a system of signs which one knows

what something is. Cultural semiotics often
provide the means by which a group defines itself

Space/Place space represents a geographic

locale, when empty and not being designated
Place is space is made or owned. It involves
landscape,language,environment and culture
agency is the capacity of individuals to act
independently and to make their own free choices

Subaltern Studies

Started in England in the 1970s

Developed from Gramscis theories of
culture and class politics
Ranajit Guha initiated the project
1970s: focus on workers and peasant
movement
1980s: focus on resistance to state power
1990s: influenced by poststructuralists

Diaspora

Explores a concept that helps migrants, scholars

and social commentators to experience migration
Return to homeland or homecoming is both literal
and metaphorical
(Vikram Seth, Jhumpa Lahiri, Chitra Banerjee
Divakarunni)
Bend it like Beckham, Namesake
Acceptance
Conflict