Postcolonial Literature Research Articles

Jay Wright’s Errant Texts and the Idea of World Literature

ABSTRACT This article offers an analytical framework that places debates in postcolonial literature and transnational literature in dialogue. The juxtaposition of concepts from both renders legible the existence of what the author refers to as world literature’s errant texts. These errant texts, ’Gbenga Adeoba suggests, travel in a different form than current concepts of world literature allow and demonstrate world-making sensibilities. In the way they enact (re)worlding, world literature’s errant texts contest a marginalizing impulse and foreground polycentric alliances and aesthetic maps that assert relationality. The article proposes the poetry of Jay Wright as exemplary of such errantry and considers the multicultural and relational aspect of his poetics as his contribution to the contemporary conversation on world literature.

Alien Encounters in Twentieth-Century Arabic Science Fiction: Talib Imran’s Ashbah as a Case Study

This essay surveys alien encounters in 20th-century Arabic Science Fiction (ASF). It points out that two characteristics prevail: first, aliens exclusively encounter Arabs; second, aliens are predominantly superior but indifferent to inferior humans. While the first characteristic is understandable, the second one is peculiar; it is odd that a genre written by colonized people and has been described as “emphatically postcolonial” dismisses the power struggle embedded in the superior colonizer-inferior colonized dichotomy. The author of the essay argues that understanding the difference between Jaques Lacan’s concepts of big Other and small other within an Arab postcolonial context allows us to understand this peculiarity better. While these two concepts normally occupy distinct orders in the psyche, they overlap in the collective postcolonial Arabic one. As a result, Arab postcolonial writers are more nuanced in their approach to the colonizer-colonized dichotomy in their works. The author exemplifies this in Talib Imran’s short story Ashbah. Understanding the perception of other in ASF significantly enhances our understanding of postcolonial literature. It also allows us to appreciate the diverse approaches postcolonial writers employ in their endeavors toward decolonization.

Unveiling the Stylistic Features of Tayeb Salih's "Season of Migration to the North: A Postcolonial Analysis"

The book represents the fullest example of stylistic analysis within an important novel in the postcolonial canon-Tayeb Salih's Season of Migration to the North. The research provides a deep linguistic, structural, and thematic insight into how Salih's stylistic options build a peculiar picture of postcolonial themes, cultural identity, and the difficulties and contrasts of cultural exchange. While situating the bilingual narrative, symbolic imagery, and satirical moments of intertextual dialogue and celebration of oral traditions in their historical and cultural context, it proves how such features set the tone and atmosphere of the novel and give further depth to its themes. By doing so, Salih's style refutes and rebukes colonialist discourses, while engaging readers in a critical consideration of postcolonial identity, power relationships, and cultural exchange. These findings underline the continuous popularity of the novel and its status as a strong work of postcolonial literature, with much to offer about the postcolonial condition and its representation in literature.

A thousand tiny theories: The colonized subject, postcolonial literature, and decolonial epistemologies

AbstractPsychoanalysis has, from its origins, made a claim to superior interpretative knowledge of literature than literary studies itself, often using its knowledge of literature to affirm and reaffirm its own colonial logics. In this paper, I examine how this colonial epistemological position is reaffirmed in literary interpretations of postcolonial and decolonial writing, even as psychosocial studies works to decolonize the psy disciplines. Through discussion of Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions trilogy, I argue instead that postcolonial writing offers its own autotheory of the colonized mind which opens a pathway to decolonizing the authority of the psy disciplines.

The Impact of Postcolonial Literature on Critical Thinking and Identity Formation among Pakistani Students

The magic of literature can resuscitate brains and rebuild communities. Books can introduce us to new worlds, help us question our convictions and engage in a more profound communication with people & ourselves through the book pages. This research, while using the qualitative method by conducting interviews with literature students and applying thematic analysis, focuses on Post-Colonial literature and its influence on critical thinking and identity formation among Pakistani students. Overall, we found that reading postcolonial literature improves critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of socio-political issues, as well as influences cultural identity and personal connections. This study identifies the urgent need to incorporate post-colonial reading material into syllabi in order to encourage critical thinking, cultural sensitivity and social responsibility among students. Postcolonial literature can offer transformative power to create a more just and fair world through a transformed self.

Identity Crises and the Impact of 9/11: A Post-Colonial Study of the Reluctant Fundamentalist and Khuda Kay Lye

The current study explores the devastating aftershocks and identity crises caused by 9/11. It furthermore, presents the upheavals through two different forms of literature: The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid and the cinematic film Khuda Kay Liye by Shoaib Mansoor. The study employs a post-colonial lens, utilizing the concept of marginality to examine identity crises and the traumatic aftermath of 9/11. In addition, the study highlights the main characters of both the literary forms: novel and film, demonstrating how they face marginalization at various levels—cultural, religious, and international. The background of the study encompasses the Afghan-Russian war in 1979 and the 9/11 attacks, which profoundly affected Afghanistan and northern Pakistan, fueling terrorism and raising questions about identity. Religious figures, as the research uncovers through the character of Changez in The Reluctant Fundamentalist, were often labeled as terrorists. On the other hand, Mansoor, Maryam, and Sarmad are marginalized in Khuda Kay Liye. Mansoor faces racial prejudice in the USA, while Sarmad and Maryam encounter religious extremism in Pakistan. While weaving together the theme of identity crises, the study adopts the framework of marginality, a significant aspect of post-colonial literature. With a clear understanding of the issues, the study utilizes post-colonial theory, using Edward Said's seminal work, Orientalism. Additionally, the researcher recognizes the significance of marginality, which is central to both the genre fiction and the films The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Khuda Kay Liye.

An Overview of Caribbean and African Literary Theories

As it is believed, Africa is the cradle of humankind, where humans also left for other parts of the world during the slave trade and also during World War I and II. At the abolition of the slave trade, many African descendants settled where they could call home, like in the Caribbean islands and other parts of the world, as a result of the ancestral and cultural attachment between Africa and the places where the descendants of the slaves where we could see some similarities in their ways of life. We can see these facts also translate into the African and Caribbean writers' literary works, among other spheres of life. The analyses show that while both literatures share common concerns related to colonial legacy and the quest for identity, they are distinguished by unique historical and socio-political contexts that influence their narrative perspectives. For example, African literature tends to focus more on the effects of colonization and decolonization on the African continent, while Caribbean literature often emphasizes the dynamics of the diaspora and the multiple facets of Caribbean identity. In addition, this study examines the use of language and literary techniques specific to each region, as well as the contributions of major literary figures such as aimé Césaire, Léopold Sédar Senghor, Monique Ilboudo, Werewe Liking, Wole Soyinka, Maryse Condé and many others. Finally, this comparison offers a deeper understanding of the richness and diversity of postcolonial literature while highlighting the unique voices and shared experiences of African and Caribbean writers.

Reclaiming African Identity: Analyzing Issues of Postcolonial-ism in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart"

Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" stands as a seminal work in postcolonial literature, exploring the intricate dynamics between colonizers and the colonized in the context of European colonization's impact on African societies. This abstract delves into the novel's portrayal of postcolonial themes, focusing on the disruption of traditional Igbo culture, power dynamics between Europeans and indigenous peoples, and the psychological and emotional repercussions of colonization. Achebe was motivated to write the novel as a response to European portrayals of Africans in literature, particularly influenced by Joyce Cary's shallow depiction of Africa in "Mr. Johnson." Achebe's use of language, particularly his appropriation of English to convey African experiences, challenges Eurocentric narratives and offers a counter-narrative that centres African perspectives. Through meticulous depiction of pre-colonial Igbo society, Achebe reclaims African history and cultural identity, countering colonial misrepresentations and emphasizing the resilience and dignity of indigenous cultures. Additionally, the abstract discusses Achebe's critique of colonial ideologies, particularly Christianity, which undermines native traditions and fractures communal bonds within Igbo society. By contrasting "Things Fall Apart" with Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness," Achebe challenges demeaning depictions of Africans in Western literature and asserts the importance of authentic representation in postcolonial discourse. Overall, "Things Fall Apart" remains a powerful testament to the enduring legacy of colonialism and the ongoing struggle for cultural autonomy and identity in the postcolonial world. By using a postcolonial framework, the study aims to shed light on the socio-political implications of Achebe's work and highlight the importance of diverse narratives and marginalized voices.

History, Memory, Landscape, and Patriarchal Ideology in the Novels of Easterine Kire: A Comparative Study of 'A Respectable Woman' and 'A Terrible Matriarchy

This comparative study delves into the literary works of Easterine Kire, a prominent Naga author, to explore the intricate interplay of history, memory, landscape, and patriarchal ideology in her novels 'A Respectable Woman' and 'A Terrible Matriarchy.' Set against the backdrop of Nagaland, India, these novels provide a nuanced understanding of the socio-cultural dynamics and transformations that have shaped the Naga society. Memory emerges as a central theme, as the study examines how characters in both novels grapple with personal and collective memories, reflecting the broader collective memory of the Naga people. The landscape, both natural and urban, serves as a powerful symbol in Kire's works. Furthermore, the research investigates the presence of patriarchal ideology in Naga society, analyzing how it influences gender roles and societal expectations. It highlights instances of resistance and empowerment, particularly among female characters, illustrating their agency in challenging oppressive norms. Through a comparative approach, this study uncovers commonalities and differences in how history, memory, landscape, and patriarchal ideology are portrayed in 'A Respectable Woman' and 'A Terrible Matriarchy.' It sheds light on the evolution of Easterine Kire's perspective on these themes and their implications for understanding Naga identity and postcolonial literature. In conclusion, this research contributes to the broader discourse on postcolonial literature, gender dynamics, and cultural preservation. It underscores the significance of literature in capturing the multifaceted facets of Naga history and identity, offering valuable insights into the complexities of a society in transition.

Deciphering the Postcolonial Discourse: An Oriental Reading for The Kite Runner by Khaled Housseini and The Parisian by Isabella Hammad

Postcolonial literature explores the effects of colonialism and its aftermath, shedding light on the complex relationships between colonizers and the colonized. It challenges dominant narratives, gives voice to marginalized perspectives, and examines themes of identity, power, and cultural hybridity. It also addresses issues of nationalism, representationalism, opposition, ethnicity, and feminism. Postcolonial dialogue in literature refers to the discourse that emerges in the aftermath of colonialism, encompassing various elements such as the reshaping of identities, power dynamics, cultural exchanges, and responses to historical colonial narratives. It is often a space where writers and intellectuals from formerly colonized societies engage with and respond to the legacies of colonialism. A wide range of post-colonial novels has been published during the 1990s and the first years of the 21st century, including The Kite Runner by the Afghan-American novelist Khaled Hosseini and The Parisian by the British-Palestinian novelist Isabella Hammad. These novels provide insight into the postcolonial experience, offering nuanced portrayals of the impacts of colonization on individuals and societies. This article aims to deciphering the postcolonial discourse in Khaled Housseini’s The Kite Runner and Isabella Hammad’s The Parisian using oriental lenses. An oriental perspective seems to offer a unique examination of the different experiences of those from oriental cultures, shedding light on the nuanced complexities of postcolonial discourse. Thus, the oriental perspective adds depth and nuance to the analysis of The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and The Parisian by Isabella Hammad.

A Critical Analysis of the Use of Magic Realism in Indian Culture in Post-Colonial Literature Context

A Critical Analysis of the Use of Magic Realism in Indian Culture in Post-Colonial Literature Context

Revisiting the Influence of Online Readers in Postcolonial Literature: A Postcolonial Analysis

This paper explores the impact of online platforms, institutions and digital reading communities on reading practice in the digital age. The subjective status of the readers and their activeness in the creation and realization of the meaning of literary texts are emphasized by reception aesthetics. The current research on postcolonial literature focuses broadly on the authors perspective and the texts perspective but lacks the readers perspective. This paper puts the changes in readers subjectivity in the digital era under the post-colonial perspective, discussing what kind of changes have taken place in the subjectivity of network readers. Meanwhile, it analyzes how cyber subalterns and elites will influence postcolonial discourse in the digital realm. Using a theoretical and methodological framework covering post-colonialism and receptive criticism, this article demonstrates how marginal discourses can construct and grow spaces within social and cultural limits. The results show that the online reading practice and the formation of online communities further blur cultural boundaries. The post-colonial visual threshold gives readers the task of expanding marginal discourse. Finally, this article illustrates that readers subjectivity is still limited by digital institutions and algorithms, and they must be wary of network colonization.

Re-Orientalism and Colonial Nostalgia in Pakistani Austen Rewritings: A Case Study of Austenistan

Our paper aims to explore the recent Austen rewritings in Pakistani Anglophone fiction such as Austenistan as an example of professional fan fiction and postcolonial literature. These rewritings, we argue, possess such qualities that not only appeal to Janeites but also adhere to Re-Orientalism. The primary premise of our work focuses on the strategic use of ‘Austenmania’ by Pakistani Anglophone female writers in their fiction and its tendencies to project an oriental gaze on Pakistan, while also aligning it with the ‘benevolent modernity’ of former colonial masters. In our paper, we have critically analysed seven stories from the anthology Austenistan by mainly drawing upon the theoretical lens of Re-Orientalism propounded by Lisa Lau along with other relevant theories of Robert Dryden, Sarah Brouillette, Patricia M. E. Lorcin, and William Bissell, etc. Our research explores that Pakistani Janeites employ the practices of “possession” and “selfothering” in Austenistan through compromised and pejorative representations of Pakistan which is a manifestation of their nostalgia for the colonial past.Keywords: Janeites, Regency era, South Asian writers, Pakistani Anglophone fiction, Self-othering, Re-Orientalism, Colonial Nostalgia.

COMPARISON OF THE POSTCOLONIAL ELEMENTS IN THE ARROW OF GOD AND ITS TURKISH TRANSLATION WITHIN THE SCOPE OF VENUTI’S FOREIGNIZATION STRATEGY

Postcolonial literature has emerged as a significant field in recent decades, sparking exploration across various disciplines, notably in translation studies. Translation within the context of postcolonial literature involves assessing decisions made in the light of resistance against colonial cultural impositions. This has led to the development of postcolonial translation as a burgeoning area within translation studies. Chinua Achebe, a pivotal figure in postcolonial literature, has produced seminal works characterized by linguistic elements that challenge conventional norms, deliberately incorporating the "foreign" elements within ostensibly "fully English" texts. This essay primarily aims to examine the foreignization strategy proposed by Lawrence Venuti by comparing original texts with their Turkish translations, particularly those by Nazan Arıbaş Erbil. Through this analysis, the extent to which Erbil's translations maintain the foreignizing effect of the original texts will be explored. By scrutinizing linguistic decisions within the context of postcolonial literature and translation, this study seeks to shed light on the complexities and nuances of cross-cultural communication and the preservation of linguistic identity in translated works. Ultimately, the research aims to provide a deeper understanding of the translator's role in postcolonial literature and the implications of their decisions on cross-cultural communication and the preservation of linguistic identity in order to ensure an awareness.

Somewhere between the Nahḍa and the Nadal: toward a rhizomatic cartography of Hispanophone Moroccan literature

The great variety of Hispanophone Moroccan literature evades facile categorization and breaks down identity qualifiers. It exists, yet it refuses to be easily categorized: is it a Moroccan literature that just happens to be expressed in Spanish? Or is it a peripheral Spanish literature that has grown out of the historical proximity and connections between the Iberian Peninsula and the Maghreb? This long, shared history complicates a simple description of these works as “postcolonial literature,” and suggests what Deleuze and Guattari call a rhizomatic literary cartography. This project seeks to engage with these questions of literary identity in Hispanophone Moroccan literature in order to consider the competing factors contributing to this unique literary phenomenon. My thesis is that Hispanophone Moroccan literature must be understood as a rhizomatic cartography. If it is considered as a peripheral Spanish or postcolonial literature, we risk overlooking many of its valuable contributions to the Hispanophone literary canon.

Black Marxism, Racial Capitalism, and Greek and Balkan Coloniality Studies: Toward an Abolitionist Perspective

The end of the Cold War marked the beginning of the Balkan and Greek postcolonial and de-colonial studies. The Yugoslav ethnic wars, the Greek “financial crisis,” and the European migration crisis generated a body of critical studies on regional nationalism, coloniality, and racialism and the Balkans and Greece's ambiguous relation to Europe. Cedric J. Robinson's Black Marxism: The Making of the Black Radical Tradition was missing from the large spectrum of postcolonial literature. This absence is surprising given that the book historicizes the simultaneous occurrence of colonialism, capitalism, racism, and modernity in the Balkan and the East Mediterranean during the late feudalism. The absence of this history from the Balkan's post and de-colonial studies deprives these studies of an abolitionist perspective; rather than opting for “provincializing Europe” empowered by this history of the native enslavements and colonization, these studies, much as Black radicalism should mobilize the region for the political culture for the abolition of “Europe.”

Emerging Evils in Post-Colonies

The colonial and postcolonial are two different ideological eras in the colonized peoples’ history, which are taken up by post-colonial literature. Without rehashing the ex-colonized beings’ painful past from a rebellious and revanchist perspective, postcolonial writers’ literary projects aimed at revitalizing the ex-colonized beings’ experience in the form of collective memory. In such a creative art, the narrative devices in force decry retrograde and dehumanizing practices. In terms of vision, the call for improving the relationship between ex-colonizers and ex-colonized subjects is highly prescribed. All neocolonial policies and related influences are systematically proscribed, thus favouring the creation of a global village free from inequalities, exclusions, and other injustices. In essence, the poetization of “Bournehills” in The Chosen Place, The Timeless People and “Kosawa” in How Beautiful We Were is part of those narrative techniques. Today, in a disguised form, Westerners, with their seducing offers or projects, corrupt tiny groups of undeveloped people won over to their cause and keep the masses in misery. In this context of political paradigm shift and sociocultural mutation, the study of the forms of life in the post-colonies remains a challenge. This helps to disclose on the one hand how the former colonial maintains their ex-colonies in perpetual dependence and on the other hand, highlight how the ex-colonized beings or heirs react and overcome neo-colonial policies. To account for the features of neo-colonialism, the use of Perussetian semiotic approach will be helpful. This will contribute to looking into the prevailing forms of life in both fictional imaginaries. Two points of interest will be scrutinized: “post-colonial order features” and “ex-colonized beings’ resilience”

MANTO'S PARTITION: UNVEILING THE VEILED TRUTHS

The paper aims to explore the significance of Saadat Hasan Manto’s writings in navigating the themes of identity, loss, and human resilience in the socio-political context of partition-era India, providing insights into the broader implications of Manto's narratives on postcolonial literature and historical discourse. Through a thematic and stylistic analysis, the paper highlights how Manto’s “Toba Tek Singh” and “Khol Do” serve as stark reminders of the British colonial rule in India and the grievances of those who lived during this era.

Off-Centring the Real in Postcolonial Fiction

Postcolonial literature primarily emerged as a response to colonial representations of reality, so it comes as no surprise that a persistent dialogue with the real is one of its defining features. Since its initial attempt to question colonial constructions of the real and engage in self-representation, postcolonial literature has found “new angles at which to enter reality”. By exploring some of the commonly employed modes and genres in both early and contemporary postcolonial fiction, ranging from realism, magic(al) realism, historiographic metafiction, and science fiction to the Gothic, each illustrated by representative authors and works, this article intends to give a brief overview of postcolonial approaches to reality.

Global Perspectives on Climate Crisis in Postcolonial Literature: Decolonizing Ecological Narratives

This paper explores the intersection of postcolonial literature and global perspectives on the climate crisis, focusing on how literary narratives decolonize ecological discourse and advocate for environmental justice. Postcolonial literature, emerging from regions formerly colonized by Western powers, offers unique perspectives on environmental issues, challenging dominant Western narratives and proposing alternative frameworks rooted in cultural and historical contexts. Through a comparative and thematic analysis of selected texts, this research examines how postcolonial authors critique colonial legacies, highlight environmental degradation’s disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, and envision sustainable futures grounded in cultural resilience and ecological stewardship.