Post-Colonialism

Post-colonialism 

Post-colonialism does not simply refer to the period after the colonial era. It can also be seen as a continuation of colonialism. The word 'Post' is a prefix which means after colonialism. Post-colonialism may seek to challenge or undermine the 'western' way of thinking. The post-colonial theory attempts to focus on the oppression of those who were ruled under colonization. 

Factors include... 

• Political oppression 
• Economic 
• Social & cultural oppression

Post-colonialism...

• Questions the effect of an empire
• Raises issues such as racism and exploitation
• Assesses the position of the colonial or post-colonial subject
• Offers a counter-narrative to the long tradition of European imperial natives

Subaltern are the people in the 3rd world who do not have the power in the West. Western ideologies were therefore challenged by these groups of people. 

Theorist: Frantz Fanan

Black Skin,White Masks (1952 - translation published)

'Colonisation has had a huge psychological impact on both the coloniser and the colonised.'

'...putting on a white mask'

 --> Black slaves would wear white masks to mock their slave owners during the carnival. 

 --> They would mock their owners because they were treated badly and abused and therefore it was their one day to mock them. 

 --> He is saying that people change in order to fit into the western world

• Infantilize - Making everybody seem as children 'cute' 
• Primitivize - The 'exotic & Vinle' -tribal warriors
• Decivilized - Gang related
• Essentialized - Lumping them all together 

Theorist: Alvarado 

There are four keythemes in racial representations...

• Exotic (models; music artists; food)
• Dangerous (Crime; ganged; socially dysfunction)
• Humorous (Comedians)
• Pitied (Poverty)  

Theorist: Edward Said

Moved colonial disclosure into the first world academy and into literary and cultural theory. Was also very influential in third world universities.

• "Power and Knowledge are inseparable" (following Foucalt's belief)
• A "lumping" together of Asia