Key theories of jacques derrida literary theory and. The researcher has analysed conrads heart of darkness and coetzees waiting for the barbarians using certain postcolonial concepts as tools of analysis. A very short introduction is an exemplary work in this genre. Postcolonial theory is a literary theory or critical approach that deals with literature produced in countries that were once, or are now, colonies of other countries. Literary criticism and theory university of calicut. Colonialism is a powerful, usually destructive historical force that shapes not only the political futures of the countries involved but also the identities of colonized and colonizing people. The blackwell guide to literary theory is designed to facilitate this process by offering students and instructors basic information on the major theories, practitioners, and their texts. An introduction to postcolonialism, postcolonial theory and. Said, in which the author developed the idea of orientalism to define the wests historically patronizing representations of the eastthe societies and peoples who inhabit the places of asia, north africa, and the middle east. The greatest intellectual impact of orientalism 1978 was upon the fields of literary theory, cultural studies, and human geography, by way of which originated the field of postcolonial studies.
Home postcolonialism the other, the big other, and othering. We have tried to avoid simply giving potted summaries of isms. Although othering is a theme in continental philosophy, critical theory, and. In order for it to justify the otherness of man, darwins theory needs. The information below is meant merely as a guide or introduction to modern literary theories and trends. Click download or read online button to a practical introduction to literary study book pdf for free now. According to readerresponse theorists, it is significant that a certain character reminds you of dad, or that a certain passage recalls something from your childhood.
Other and otherness are technical terms used in the social sciences and humanities. A literary movement that started in the late 1920s and 1930s and originated in reaction to traditional criticism that new critics saw as largely concerned with matters extraneous to the text, e. Of course, geographers were interested in the elsewhere before that date. A readers guide to contemporary literary theory raman selden peter widdowson peter brooker fifth edition a readers guide to contemporary literary theoryis a classic introduction to the everevolving field of modern literary theory, now expanded and updated in its fifth edition.
Queer theory in james baldwins giovannis room cultural. Literary theory is an unavoidable part of studying literature and criticism. The othering and belonging institute at uc berkeley is a hub of engaged scholars, researchers, strategic communicators, policymakers, and community partners working to advance belonging for all members of society. Mar 04, 2019 the other, the big other, and othering. Colonialism is one such example of the powers of othering. The concise oxford dictionary of literary terms chris baldick is professor of english at goldsmiths college, university of london. The concept of the other in literature can take on numerous forms and on one thread of thought it is considered to be an individual who is perceived by a group as not belonging.
In literary theory, the process of othering is the depiction or categorization of another person or group of people as distinctly different from the writers or speakers own groupoften with overtones of dehumanization. When theories are explained briefly, a necessary reduction in their complexity and richness occurs. But theory especially when it takes the form of isms can often be intimidating or else, frankly, boring. It may also deal with literature written in or by citizens of colonizing countries that. World literature and othering the bookshelf of emily j. A userfriendly guide and learning for a diverse world. The other, the big other, and othering by nasrullah mambrol on october 24, 2017 3. They both address ways of looking at literature beyond the typical plotthemecharactersetting studies.
Show what you know about the major movements and theorists of literary theory with an interactive quiz and printable worksheet. I classical age plato plato was the first scholastic philosopher who had given a systematic shape to criticism. Best known for his dictionary of literary terms, he also produced the large dictionary. Scholars who work with structuralist, poststructuralist, feminist, marxist, and other methodologies which depend on binary oppositions often look for works in which characters are created by invoking some rhetoric of otherness. Literary theory has undergone drastic changes in the past century and this paper is an attempt to understand some of the influences that have altered the critical landscape. Most english teachers think literary theory is such a complex field. The postcolonial theory and the literature of decolonization lutfi hamadi, phd lebanese international university, lebanon abstract this paper attempts an exploration of the literary theory of postcolonialism, which traces european colonialism of many regions all over the world, its effects on various aspects.
The first group is the study using othering to analyze. Basic tenets of postcolonial theory senior english 20. The study has been delimited to first chapters of the two novels. The present paper perspectives on postcolonial theory. Uses a process called othering the colonized are seen as different and lesser than the colonized. Application of literary theory in teaching literaturea. By nasrullah mambrol on october 24, 2017 3 critical theorists are particularly committed to opposing binary oppositions where one side is seen as privileged over or defining itself against an other often capitalized, for example, malefemale, occidentorient, centermargin. Defining otherness the idea of otherness is central to sociological analyses of how majority and minority identities are constructed. He edited the oxford book of gothic tales 1992, and is the author of in frankensteins shadow 1987, criticism and literary theory 1890 to the present 1996, and other works of literary history.
In her essay, the rani of sirmur, she argues that the turning of foreign lands and people into an other for the european, colonial master occurs not just in official documents or high culture. Choose from 500 different sets of literary theories flashcards on quizlet. Othering is the construction and identification of the self or ingroup and the other or outgroup in mutual, unequal opposition by attributing relative inferiority andor radical alienness to the otheroutgroup. This page provides a sociological definition of otherness and how it works in societies.
Reviews i know of no other book on critical theory for beginning and intermediate students that offers the same depth and breath. The notion of othering spread from feminist theory and postcolonial studies to other areas of the humanities and social sciences, but is originally rooted in hegels dialectic of. Othering is a process that may be applied to oneself, whereby one experiences oneself as a stranger, indeed lacanian theory views this selfothering as the process whereby the symbolic order is established the unconscious is the stranger within ourselves. The practice of othering excludes persons who do not fit the norm of the social group, which is a version of the self. According to readerresponse theorists, it is significant that a certain character reminds you of dad, or that a certain passage recalls something from your. It may also deal with literature written in or by citizens of colonizing countries that takes colonies or their peoples as its subject matter. These different lenses allow critics to consider works of art based on certain assumptions within that school of theory. I also build a case of the great forgotten element of moroccan world literature, the literature in amazighi language, and demonstrate that it suffers double exclusion from comparative literature.
This theory allows you to take your own personal feelings and your own perspective into account when you analyze a literary text. Charles bressler literary criticism an introduction to. Key theories of jacques derrida by nasrullah mambrol on may 14, 2017 11. Also, the rapid movement of french the ory into postcolonial studies has occurred in various ways, not insignificantly and apart from the.
Octavia butlers dawn, the first novel of the afrofuturistic liliths brood trilogy, stands as one of the most prevalent literary voices of human concern over the ramifications of genetic. The change that has taken place in literary theory is not novel to this discipline alone, nor. Learn literary theories with free interactive flashcards. The creation of otherness also called othering consists of applying a principle that allows individuals to be classified into two hierarchical groups.
Critical theorists are particularly committed to opposing binary oppositions where one side is seen as privileged over or defining itself against an other often capitalized, for example, malefemale, occidentorient, centermargin. For me,the most productive theories of hybridity are those that effectively balance the task of inscribing a functionalinstrumental version. Download pdf a practical introduction to literary study. It implies a hierarchy, and it serves to keep power where it already lies. When we other another group, we point out their perceived weaknesses to make ourselves look stronger or better. The group sees itself as the norm and judges those who do not meet that norm that is, who are different in any way as the other. Pdf comparative literature and the question of theory. Could it be that for most teachers of composition, criticism and skepticism are. Literary theory and schools of criticism introduction a very basic way of thinking about literary theory is that these ideas act as different lenses critics use to view and talk about art, literature, and even culture.
The other is an individual who is perceived by the group as not belonging, as being different in some fundamental way. The idea of otherness is central to sociological analyses of how majority and minority identities are constructed. A number of postcolonial concepts can be applied to analyse the two novels since both the. Only certain privileged persons, welltodo aristocrats or explorers, traveled to. Home deconstruction key theories of jacques derrida. Well, thats the whole point of readerresponse theory. According to michel foucault, othering is strongly connected with power and knowledge. Using critical theory to read and write about literature. Gayatri chakravorty spivak develops the term into her own concepts of othering and worlding. Key terms in postcolonial theory you should read over the following definitions in order to understand some of the basic ideas associated with postcolonialist literature. Our programs and initiatives are all designed to effect transformative change. A very short introduction jonathan culler has always been about the best person around at explaining literary theory without oversimplifying it or treating it with polemical bias. Introduction to hayden white, university of california at. Ottherrnneesss cullttuurraall nmmaarrggiinnalliizzaattiioon aanndd ddeevvaalluuaattiioonn other and otherness are technical terms used in the social sciences and humanities for the way people tend to view others people or nature that are dissimilar and separated.
I was so excited for the class, and my background as an editor of a daily document about the worldwide security situation prepared me for knowing a little bit about the countries of the. Key theories of jacques derrida by nasrullah mambrol on may 14, 2017 11 jacques derrida 19302004 came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with the publication of of grammatology 1967, writing and difference 1967 and margins of philosophy 1972. An introduction to literary criticism and theory before we begin our examination and study of literary theory, it is important that we define exactly what literary theory is and is not, identify some of the main characteristics of such, as well as identify some of the key differences between traditional literary. In giovannis room james baldwin uses the space of the novel as a place to enact queer theory, judith butler states in bodies that matter literary narrative is a place where theory takes place 182. Thomas, charles horton cooley, and herbert blumer, among others. Literary theory and schools of criticism introduction.
Said, spivak and bhabha explores and defines postcolonial theory, its roots, development, major critics, principles, issues, covering area. Successful colonialism depends on a process of othering the people colonized. In order to understand the notion of the other, sociologists first seek to put a. The latter group deals exclusively with othering in any literary texts. A practical introduction to literary study download a practical introduction to literary study ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format. Although othering is a theme in continental philosophy, critical theory, and fields of inquiry influenced by those primarily, the role of othering in interpretation. The collusion of these two domains of theory politics and social reality with regard to the hybrid will become significant to the analyses that follow.
Postcolonial literary criticism utilizes many critical methods, both literary and nonliterary. School as a context for othering youth and promoting cultural assets article pdf available in teachers college record 1142. A brief history of literary theory xenos christian. The key concepts is fully updated and crossreferenced throughout. Derridas name is inextricably linked with the term. Bill ashcroft teaches at the university of hong kong and the university of nsw, gareth grif. I will also include examples and resources for people interested in learning more about otherness. Pdf literary theory an introduction by terry eagleton.
Instead we present brief essays on a range of key critical. Indian literary theory may have influenced some romantic theorists, at least indirectly by way of william jones late 18th century translations of indian literature, his work on indian music, and similar writings and it also seems to have had an effect on a number of. Since the 1999 publication of critical theory today. A readers guide to contemporary literary theory raman selden peter widdowson peter brooker fifth edition a readers guide to contemporary literary theoryis a classic introduction to the everevolving field of modern literary theory, now expanded and updated in. By his time the glory of athenian art and literature began to fade and was taken.
Labeling theory, in criminology, a theory stemming out of a sociological perspective known as symbolic interactionism, a school of thought based on the ideas of george herbert mead, john dewey, w. Literary terms and definitions o carsonnewman college. By signing up, youll get thousands of stepbystep solutions to your homework questions. The other, the big other, and othering literary theory and. This is because the representation of different groups within any given society is controlled by groups that have greater political power.
With additional further reading this book has everything necessary for students and anyone keen to learn more about this fascinating subject. Charles bressler literary criticism an introduction to theory and practice. A readers guide to contemporary literary theory 5th edition. Oct 24, 2017 home postcolonialism the other, the big other, and othering. For these reasons, you will find in the second edition of critical theory today a good deal of new material. It also includes a history of literary theory from the late nineteenth century to. We will focus on the two topics separately as well as in their interconnections, by examining a range of theoretical and literary. In this section, i will synthesize these previous studies respectively in order to indicate the importance, commonalities, and differences of the novel and the notion of othering.
The outgroup is only coherent as a group as a result of its opposition to the ingroup and its lack of identity. George 1 the othering of queerness in science fiction. Baldwin reveals how literature is the perfect conduit to explore the ins and outs of human sexuality by demonstrating. The notion of othering spread from feminist theory and postcolonial studies to other areas.
The imperialist expansion of europe into the rest of the world during the last four hundred years in which a dominant imperium or center carried on a. A section on lacanian psychoanalysis has been added to the chapter on psycho. Key terms in postcolonial theory dallas baptist university. Othering through a literature of history and ethnography there is no more effective way of bonding together the disparate sections of restless peoples than to unite them against outsiders1 eric hobsbawm the only homeland, foreigner, is the world we live in. World literature and othering as i mentioned in my post on the kite runner, i took a world literature class while working on a masters degree in english. There is thus an interesting link between theory of the other and alienation. This course will conduct a detailed examination of two theoretical concepts that have been central to postcolonial theory, otherness and hybridity, both concerned with identity. Jacques derrida 19302004 came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with the publication of of grammatology 1967, writing and difference 1967 and margins of philosophy 1972. The proper characters can be distinguished by their difference from the improper. Introduction to modern literary theory kristi siegel. In creating difference through othering, potentially the dominant person or group is empowered while the non. The other, the big other, and othering literary theory. Literature will tell us about ways of thinking at the time. The terms literary theory and critical theory refer to essentially the same fields of study.
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