Markov-switching GARCH models

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UNIT 3 CENTRAL TENETS OF POSTCOLONIAL

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2.0 OBJECTIVE

At the end of this unit, you should be able to:

 Outline and discuss the central concerns of postcolonial theory.

3.0 MAIN CONTENT

3.1 Central Tenets of Postcolonial Theory

Colonialism is a powerful, usually destructive historical force that shapes not only the political futures of the countries involved but also the identities of colonised and colonising people. Successful colonialism depends on a process of ―othering‖ the people colonised. That is, the colonised people are seen as dramatically different from and less than the colonisers.

Because of this, literature written in colonising cultures often distorts the experiences and realities of colonised people. Literature written by colonised people often includes attempts to articulate more empowered identities and reclaim cultures in the face of colonisation. Postcolonial literary theory attempts to isolate perspectives in literature that grow out of colonial rule and the mindset it creates. On one hand, it can examine the ways in which a colonising society imposes its worldview on the peoples it subjugates, making them objectives of observation and denying them the power to define themselves. The colonisers are the subjects, those who take action and create realities out of the beliefs they hold to be important.

On the other hand, postcolonial literary theory can focus on the experiences of colonised peoples and the disconnection they feel from their own identities. Postcolonialism also focuses on attempts of formerly colonised societies to reassert the identities they wish to claim for themselves, including national identities and cultural identities. When this lens is used to examine the products of colonisation, it focused on reclamation of self-identity.

The aim of postcolonial study then is to restore the history, the dignity, validity, cultural contributions, and global significance of those whose experiences have been represented within a worldview that provided no way to include the ―other‖ except through direct contrast with itself. This type of direct contrast—us/other, western/non-western, civilised/uncivilised, necessarily reduces everything and everyone it encounters. It diminishes not only the complexity of the colonised world, but its legitimacy as well.

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Postcolonial critics are concerned with literature produced by colonial powers and works produced by those who were/are colonised. Postcolonial theory looks at issues of power, economics, politics, religion, and culture and how these elements work in relation to colonial hegemony (western colonisers controlling the colonised. Thus, a postcolonial critic might be interested in works such as Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe where colonial

"...ideology [is] manifest in Crusoe's colonialist attitude toward the land upon which he's shipwrecked and towards the Blackman he 'colonises' and names Friday" (Tyson, 2006). In addition, postcolonial theory might point out that "...despite Joseph Conrad‘s Heart of Darkness's obvious anti-colonist agenda, the novel points to the colonised population as ―the standard of savagery to which Europeans are contrasted". Postcolonial theory also takes the form of literature composed by authors that critique Euro-centric hegemony.

Postcolonial theory also questions the role of the western literary canon and western history as dominant forms of knowledge making. Most times, the authors included in the canon often reinforce colonial hegemonic ideology, such as Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. The terms "first-world,"

"second world," "third world" and "fourth world" nations are critiqued by postcolonial critics because they reinforce the dominant positions of western cultures populating first world status. This critique includes the literary canon and histories written from the perspective of first-world cultures. Thus, for example, a postcolonial critic will question the works included in "the canon" because the canon does not contain works by authors outside western culture.

Generally, postcolonialism questions the effect of empire, raises issues such as racism and exploitation, assesses the position of the colonial or postcolonial subject and offers a counter-narrative to the long tradition of European imperial narratives. In other words, a postcolonial critic examines colonisers/colonised relationship in literature; he also examine if the work is pro/anti colonialist and why? He also finds out if the text reinforces or resists colonialist ideology? In short, the postcolonial critic explores the dynamics of colonisation through literary works.

4.0 CONCLUSION

In this unit, you learnt that postcolonial theory has become enormously popular because of its rejection of the supposedly universalising categories of the Enlightenment. Postcolonial critics are concerned with literature produced by colonial powers and works produced by those who were/are colonised. Postcolonial theory looks at issues of power, economics, politics,

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religion, and culture and how these elements work in relation to colonial hegemony (western colonisers controlling the colonised.

5.0 SUMMARY

Postcolonial theory is a set of theoretical and critical strategies used to examine the culture, literature, politics, and history, of former colonies.

Post-colonial theory deals with the reading and writing of literature written in previously or currently colonised countries, or literature written in colonising countries which deals with colonisation or colonised peoples.

Thus, a postcolonial critic examines colonisers/colonised relationship in literature; he also examines if the work is pro/anti colonialist and why? He also finds out if the text reinforces or resists colonialist ideology? In short, the postcolonial critic explores the dynamics of colonisation through literary works.

6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT (TMA)

1. How does Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness explicitly or allegorically, represent various aspects of colonial oppression?

2. How does a literary text in the Western canon, for instance, Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe reinforces colonialist ideology through its representation of colonisation and colonised peoples?

7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING

Ashcroft, Bill. (1998). Key Concepts in Postcolonial Studies, London:

Routledge.

Ashcroft, Bill. (1995). The Postcolonial Studies Reader, London:

Routledge

Conrad, Joseph. (1995). Heart of Darkness. London: Penguin.

Moore-Gilbert, Bart Stanton, Gareth, & Maley Willy. (1997). Postcolonial Criticism. ). (Eds). New York: Addison, Wesley, Longman.

Tyson, Lois. (2006).Critical Theory Today: A User Friendly Guide. New York: Routledge.

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UNIT 4 KEY TERMINOLOGIES IN POSTCOLONIAL