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. 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. With additional further reading this book has everything necessary for students and anyone keen to learn more about this fascinating subject. Most english teachers think literary theory is such a complex field. When we other another group, we point out their perceived weaknesses to make ourselves look stronger or better. There is thus an interesting link between theory of the other and alienation.
World literature and othering the bookshelf of emily j. 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. Introduction to modern literary theory kristi siegel. 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. A userfriendly guide and learning for a diverse world. The latter group deals exclusively with othering in any literary texts.
The present paper perspectives on postcolonial theory. The concise oxford dictionary of literary terms chris baldick is professor of english at goldsmiths college, university of london. A section on lacanian psychoanalysis has been added to the chapter on psycho. It also includes a history of literary theory from the late nineteenth century to.
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. 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. 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. 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. The first group is the study using othering to analyze.
This page provides a sociological definition of otherness and how it works in societies. Click download or read online button to a practical introduction to literary study book pdf for free now. 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. The outgroup is only coherent as a group as a result of its opposition to the ingroup and its lack of identity. Show what you know about the major movements and theorists of literary theory with an interactive quiz and printable worksheet. Thomas, charles horton cooley, and herbert blumer, among others. Using critical theory to read and write about literature. According to readerresponse theorists, it is significant that a certain character reminds you of dad, or that a certain passage recalls something from your. 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. Only certain privileged persons, welltodo aristocrats or explorers, traveled to. 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. The other is an individual who is perceived by the group as not belonging, as being different in some fundamental way. The information below is meant merely as a guide or introduction to modern literary theories and trends. But theory especially when it takes the form of isms can often be intimidating or else, frankly, boring.
Colonialism is one such example of the powers of othering. Queer theory in james baldwins giovannis room cultural. Other and otherness are technical terms used in the social sciences and humanities. 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. 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. 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. 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. Also, the rapid movement of french the ory into postcolonial studies has occurred in various ways, not insignificantly and apart from the. A readers guide to contemporary literary theory 5th edition. It implies a hierarchy, and it serves to keep power where it already lies. Successful colonialism depends on a process of othering the people colonized. 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.
These different lenses allow critics to consider works of art based on certain assumptions within that school of theory. 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. The other, the big other, and othering literary theory and. Application of literary theory in teaching literaturea. Could it be that for most teachers of composition, criticism and skepticism are. A number of postcolonial concepts can be applied to analyse the two novels since both the. The proper characters can be distinguished by their difference from the improper. In creating difference through othering, potentially the dominant person or group is empowered while the non.
Pdf comparative literature and the question of theory. In order to understand the notion of the other, sociologists first seek to put a. For these reasons, you will find in the second edition of critical theory today a good deal of new material. This theory allows you to take your own personal feelings and your own perspective into account when you analyze a literary text. An introduction to postcolonialism, postcolonial theory and. Download pdf a practical introduction to literary study. By signing up, youll get thousands of stepbystep solutions to your homework questions. The terms literary theory and critical theory refer to essentially the same fields of study. Introduction to hayden white, university of california at. In order for it to justify the otherness of man, darwins theory needs. Home postcolonialism the other, the big other, and othering. The change that has taken place in literary theory is not novel to this discipline alone, nor. 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. A very short introduction is an exemplary work in this genre.
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. 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. Gayatri chakravorty spivak develops the term into her own concepts of othering and worlding. 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. 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. Learn literary theories with free interactive flashcards. Baldwin reveals how literature is the perfect conduit to explore the ins and outs of human sexuality by demonstrating. Charles bressler literary criticism an introduction to theory and practice.
I will also include examples and resources for people interested in learning more about otherness. Oct 24, 2017 home postcolonialism the other, the big other, and othering. 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. Literary criticism and theory university of calicut. 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. Derridas name is inextricably linked with the term. 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. Literary terms and definitions o carsonnewman college. The key concepts is fully updated and crossreferenced throughout. Defining otherness the idea of otherness is central to sociological analyses of how majority and minority identities are constructed. 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.
Reviews i know of no other book on critical theory for beginning and intermediate students that offers the same depth and breath. By his time the glory of athenian art and literature began to fade and was taken. Of course, geographers were interested in the elsewhere before that date. 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. Pdf literary theory an introduction by terry eagleton. 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. Key terms in postcolonial theory dallas baptist university. 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. 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. Our programs and initiatives are all designed to effect transformative change. 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. When theories are explained briefly, a necessary reduction in their complexity and richness occurs. Uses a process called othering the colonized are seen as different and lesser than the colonized.
According to michel foucault, othering is strongly connected with power and knowledge. 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. 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 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. They both address ways of looking at literature beyond the typical plotthemecharactersetting studies. 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. Since the 1999 publication of critical theory today. The idea of otherness is central to sociological analyses of how majority and minority identities are constructed. The practice of othering excludes persons who do not fit the norm of the social group, which is a version of the self. Bill ashcroft teaches at the university of hong kong and the university of nsw, gareth grif.
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. Key theories of jacques derrida by nasrullah mambrol on may 14, 2017 11. Although othering is a theme in continental philosophy, critical theory, and. Well, thats the whole point of readerresponse theory. Key theories of jacques derrida literary theory and. Best known for his dictionary of literary terms, he also produced the large dictionary. Literature will tell us about ways of thinking at the time. Choose from 500 different sets of literary theories flashcards on quizlet. Mar 04, 2019 the other, the big other, and othering. For me,the most productive theories of hybridity are those that effectively balance the task of inscribing a functionalinstrumental version. Literary theory is an unavoidable part of studying literature and criticism. Charles bressler literary criticism an introduction to.
It may also deal with literature written in or by citizens of colonizing countries that takes colonies or their peoples as its subject matter. A brief history of literary theory xenos christian. 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. We have tried to avoid simply giving potted summaries of isms. Although othering is a theme in continental philosophy, critical theory, and fields of inquiry influenced by those primarily, the role of othering in interpretation. Home deconstruction key theories of jacques derrida. The notion of othering spread from feminist theory and postcolonial studies to other areas. I classical age plato plato was the first scholastic philosopher who had given a systematic shape to criticism. The creation of otherness also called othering consists of applying a principle that allows individuals to be classified into two hierarchical groups. Instead we present brief essays on a range of key critical. Basic tenets of postcolonial theory senior english 20. School as a context for othering youth and promoting cultural assets article pdf available in teachers college record 1142. This is because the representation of different groups within any given society is controlled by groups that have greater political power. 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.
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. The study has been delimited to first chapters of the two novels. The other, the big other, and othering by nasrullah mambrol on october 24, 2017 3. The researcher has analysed conrads heart of darkness and coetzees waiting for the barbarians using certain postcolonial concepts as tools of analysis. Postcolonial literary criticism utilizes many critical methods, both literary and nonliterary. It may also deal with literature written in or by citizens of colonizing countries that. The other, the big other, and othering literary theory. George 1 the othering of queerness in science fiction. 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. Literary theory and schools of criticism introduction. 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. Said, spivak and bhabha explores and defines postcolonial theory, its roots, development, major critics, principles, issues, covering area. 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. 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.
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