As a literary theory, postcolonialism deals with literature produced in formerly colonized countries and literature from colonial powers that features colonized subjects. It emerged in the 1970s with Edward Said's work on orientalism and how the West constructs discourse about the East. Major postcolonial thinkers examined the experiences of colonized people and their interactions with European imperial powers. Postcolonial theory provides tools to analyze hybridity, alterity, diaspora, imperialism, and Eurocentrism in former colonies. Examples of

1. POSTCOLONIALISM
By: Liza F. Badillo Cruz
March 2, 2009.
ENGG 630
Contemporary Literary Theory
Professor: Dr. Evelyn Lugo
Mondays 6:00-9:00pm

2. Objectives:
 Definitions or concepts of what is
Postcolonialsm?
 Major Figures
 KeyTerms
 Examples
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e--JMrXJyZk
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWj9E4M8o20

3. Postcolonialism:
Postcolonialism (post-colonial theory or
post-oriental) is an intellectual discourse
that holds together a set of theories or
philosophies, films, political science and
literature. From the XVI-XIX and XX
centuries.
These theories are reactions to the cultural
legacy of colonialism.

4. As a literary theory (or critical
approach), it deals with literature
produced in countries that once were
colonies of theories found among the
texts and sub-texts of other countries,
especially of the European colonial
powers Britain, France, and Spain; in
some contexts, it includes countries
still in colonial arrangements.

5. It also deals with literature written in
colonial countries and by their citizens
that has colonized people as its subject
matter. Postcolonial theory was part of
the 1970,with the “orientalism” of
Edward Said. Describes the discourse
about the East constructed by the
West.

6. Colonized people, especially of the
British Empire, attended British
universities; their access to education,
still unavailable in the colonies, created
a new criticism - mostly literary, and
especially in novels. Following the
breakup of the Soviet Union during the
late 20th century, its former republics
became the subject of this study as
well.

7. Temporal Aception- postcolonialsm
appears in 1947 with the
independence of India, at the end of
the Second World War. It appears in
Asia and Africa in all Europe from XVI
century. (P. Williams, L. Chrismas)
(F. Jameson).

8. Discursive Aception- literature
made in the colonial period (B.
Ashcroft), and practice that braked
down the arguments use from
Europe to dominate. (E. Shoat,
M.L.Pratt)

9. Epistemic Aception- postcolonial
theories, 1980 England and U.S.A
by the Palestine Edward Said. In
his book “Orientalism”(1978). The
“other” human science and
imperialism.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pmkfvzmLdU

10. Major Figures:
Edward Said Wole Soyinka
Homi Bhabha Salman Rushdie
Frantz Fanon Jamaica Kincaid
Gayatri Spivak Buchi Emecheta
Chinua Achebe

11. Key Terms
Alterity-lack of identification with some part
of one’s community, differentness,
otherness.
Diaspora-refer to any people or ethnic
population forced or induce to leave their
homelands, being dispersed throughout
other parts of the world.

12. Imperialsm-extending the control or
authorithy over foreing entities as a
means of acquisition and maintenance
of empires, either through direct
territorial control.

13. Eurocentrism-the practice, conscious or
otherwise, of placing emphasis on
European concerns, culture and values at
the expense of those of other cultures.
Hybridity-referring to the integration of
cultural signs and practices from the
colonizing and colonized cultures.

14. Examples:
Books:
Achebe, Things Fall Apart
Soyinka, The Lion and the Jewel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy6wo2wpT2k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM37tB_F96o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygNuRpwZqRU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbtA0TIyoI8

15. Films:
Mississipi Masala(Mira Nair,1992)
Sugar Cane Alley,(1984)
Xala, (1974)
Whale Rider, (2004)

16. References:
Siegel, Kristi Dr. Introduction to Modern Literary Theory.
Recuperado el 1 de Febrero de 2009.
http://www. Kristisiegel.com/theory.htm
Postcolonialism-Wikipedia, la Enciclopedia Libre.
Recuperado el 17 de Febrero de 2009.
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postcolonialism
Yifen, Beus Dr. Postcolonial Literature and Film.
Recuperado el 17 de Febrero de 2009.
http://w2.byuh.edu/academics/ICS/ICS
%20401A.htm