In post- colonial studies we have the following unites:
1) Black Skin White Mask
2) Imaginary Homelands
3) Orientalism
4) A Tempest
In the first lecture Balaji sir introduced us to the concept of post-colonial studies. Then sir dealt with the main ideas of first unit:
"Black Skin White Mask" by Frantz Fanon
This unit is divided into seven chapters:
1) The Negro and language
2) The woman of color and white man
3) The man of color and white woman
4) The So-called dependency complex of the colonized
5) The lived experience of the black man
6) The Black man and psychology
7) The Black man and Recognition
Prof. Balaji Sir gave us the main ideas about the book in following way
• Toward a new humanism
• Understanding among men
• Our colored brothers
• Mankind, I believe in you
• Race prejudice
• To understand and to love
Black Skin White Mask is a sociological study of the psychology of racism and dehumanization inherent to colonial domination. Fanon describes that Black people experience in the White world Fanon talks about, self-perception of the Black Subject who has lost his native cultural origin, and embraced the culture of the Mother Country. He also talks about the inferiority complex in the mind of the Black subject.
We can intemperate that how this White and Black are portrayed in literature in different ways. Novel ‘Oliver Twist’ by Charles Dickens’ in this novel we can find the controversy of Black and White. Here Christianity – Whiteness portrays as goodness, while Jew – Black portrayed as Evil. Here reader can find conflict between Christian v/s Jew. The novel has an idea of Christianity and Jewish. At some extent writer has described Christianity as a superior and dark side of Christianity has been presented. He portrayed Jew in a negative connotation.
"Orientalism" by Edward Said
Sir give basic idea about what is Orientalism?
Orient means the countries which are colonized by other colony or the countries of the East and specially East Asia.
Orientalism by Edward Said is a colonial text of cultural studies in which he has challenged the concept of Orientalism or the difference between East and west.
This unit is divided into three chapters:
1) The Scope of Orientalism
2) Orientalist structure and Restructures
3) Orientalism Now
Orientalism by Edward Said is a canonical text of cultural studies in which he has challenged the concept of orientalism or the difference between east and west, as he puts it. He says that with the start of European colonization the Europeans came in contact with the lesser developed countries of the east. They found their civilization and culture very exotic, and established the science of orientalism, which was the study of the Orientals or the people from this exotic civilization.
"A Tempest" by Aime Cesaire
Then sir explained us “ A Tempest” by Amie Cesaire and told the major difference between Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Cesaire’s A Tempest.
Explanation of ideas:
• Identity
• Colonial resiontion
• Appropriation of Language
• Term of Rebellion
There is not much difference between Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Aime Cesaire’s A Tempest. But ‘A Tempest’ presents colonial aspect and mentality of master-slave relationship. Here in the play Caliban and Ariel portrays as a different way. Prospero is also a good example of the role power plays in the story. Character of Stephano is another example of power in the play. Miranda plays very innocent role in the play and she is only one character who presents woman role in the island.
"Imaginary Homelands" by Salman Rushdie
In the third day lectures Balaji sir dealt with last unit Imaginary Homeland by Salman Rushidie. We have some of easy in our syllabus:
1) Attenborough’s Gandhi
2) Commonwealth literature Does not Exist
3) New Empire within British
4) On Palestine
Salman Rushdie is most controversial writer among Indian writing in English. His book published under the title “imaginary Homeland” Is the collection of the essay written during 1981 to 1992. All essays are based on the experience of Salman Rushdie’s and his contemporary time scenario. This book nicely collected the controversial issues of the decade. In these days Indira Gandhi was ruling. In this session one of the novelist whose name Rushdie did not reveal, began his contribution by reciting a Sanskrit Shloka, and then, instead of translating the verse he declared. “Every educated Indian will understand what I have just said”. This was unacceptable as, in the room were Indian writers and scholars from conceivable backgrounds such as Christian, Parasi, Muslim and Sikh. None of them rose in Sanskrit tradition and they were reasonably educated. The questions that surrounded his mind were -what were we being told? -we aren’t Indian’? The second day, an eminent Indian academic delivered a paper on Indian culture that utterly ignored all minority communities and characterized Muslim culture as imperialist and inauthentic. This made him write a book that searched for his ‘existence'. The conference was for him a bitter experience which pricked him like a thorn.
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