Articles on Postcolonial Studies
Articles on Postcolonial Studies
Introduction :-
An interdisciplinary topic called "postcolonial studies" looks at how colonialism affected many cultures and society. It looks at the identities, cultural exchanges, and power relationships that develop after colonial authority. Conversely, globalisation denotes the global interdependence of economies, cultures, and societies, propelled by advancements in technology, trade, and communication. It affects identities, economies, and environments on a local and global scale, posing both opportunities and difficulties.
Based on the article analyze how globalization reshapes postcolonial identities.
➣ Postcolonial identities are reshaped by globalisation, which brings with it benefits and problems. The events of September 11, 2001, the ensuing Global War on Terror, and the emergence of the New American Empire have profoundly altered the nature of the world today. With the current fast changing power relations and increased geopolitical tensions, the traditional limits of postcolonial studies are becoming more and more brittle.
However, these violent incidents are also a part of the process that we refer to as globalisation, which has given rise to new opportunities for analysing postcolonial ideas' applicability to the world we currently live in. They contend that ideas like margins and centres, which are essential to postcolonial studies, cannot be used to analyse globalisation. Transnational networks, regional and international flows, and the dissolution of geographic and cultural borders are better ways to describe today's economies, politics, cultures, and identities. These are paradigms that are familiar to postcolonial critics but that are now being invoked to suggest a radical break with the narratives of colonisation and anti-colonialism.
The realities of transnational networks, the fluidity of regional and worldwide movements, and the disintegration of national and cultural frontiers are now challenges for postcolonial researchers to overcome. Although it could appear that this diverges from the stories of colonisation and anti-colonialism, it is actually an advancement and growth of the field. The future of postcolonial studies must be shaped in this context an era where the transformational power of globalisation, the complexities of global politics, and the legacy of colonialism converge.
How does global capitalism influence the cultural and economic dimensions of postcolonial societies? Can you relate this discussion to films or literature that depict the challenges of postcolonial identities in a globalized world?
➣ Examined through the prism of dominance and submission, globalisation also displays a darker aspect, despite being traditionally linked with economic integration and cultural exchange. Global capitalism, frequently at the expense of indigenous customs and cultural practices, fosters a culture that is dominated by Western values, consumerism, and the media. Cultural homogenisation results from this, diluting local identities through prevailing global narratives. This can lead to the erasure of regional languages and customs in postcolonial nations as people adopt global trends in order to stay relevant or competitive.
Even though globalisation can provide access to international markets and other economic possibilities, it frequently makes inequality in postcolonial states worse. In contrast to rural communities or marginalised populations, wealth tends to concentrate in urban regions or among elites. Globalisation tends to exacerbate economic inequality by piling riches among metropolitan elites at the expense of rural areas. Additionally, it encourages migration and labour exploitation since workers from postcolonial countries frequently migrate abroad in search of better chances, which fractures identities.
Literary works like Arundhati Roy's 'The God of Small Things' and Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart illustrate the tensions between global forces and local identities, while motion pictures like "Slumdog Millionaire" and "City of God" demonstrate how global capitalism exacerbates poverty and inequality in postcolonial societies. These pieces highlight the difficulties people encounter when attempting to protect their cultural legacy while navigating the demands of global capitalism.
Drawing from explore how contemporary fiction offers a critique of globalization from a postcolonial lens. How do authors from postcolonial backgrounds navigate themes of resistance, hybridity, or identity crisis in their works? Consider analyzing a film that addresses similar issues.
➣ By examining the intricacies of identity, cultural displacement, and economic dominance that globalisation frequently exacerbates, contemporary literature analyses globalisation via a postcolonial viewpoint. Postcolonial writers who depict characters adjusting to the socio-political and economic shifts brought about by globalisation successfully negotiate themes of resistance, hybridity, and identity crises. Examples of these writers are Arundhati Roy in 'The Ministry of Utmost Happiness' and Aravind Adiga in 'The White Tiger'.
For example, Adiga’s protagonist, Balram Halwai, rises through India’s new economic order while reflecting on the inequities and corruption that accompany global capitalism. Similarly, Arundhati Roy critiques the impact of globalization on marginalized communities in India, weaving a narrative of resistance and survival.
These writers draw attention to the tensions that arise between contemporary globalised institutions and traditional identities, which frequently result in hybrid identities or identity crises. Similar themes of exploitation, economic inequality, and resistance in a globalised world are explored in films like Fernando Meirelles' The Constant Gardener (2005), which focusses on how multinational businesses prioritise profits over human lives, especially in postcolonial countries.
Postcolonial critiques of globalisation highlight the conflict between local identities and global forces in literature and film, frequently illustrating how marginalised communities negotiate and oppose these pressures in their pursuit of justice and survival.
Using , discuss how postcolonial studies intersect with environmental concerns in the Anthropocene. How are colonized peoples disproportionately affected by climate change and ecological degradation? Reflect on this issue through a film that depicts ecological or environmental destruction, particularly in formerly colonized nations.
➣ People who have been colonised, particularly those in the Global South, are disproportionately impacted by ecological degradation and climatic change. Due to historical resource extraction during colonisation, which resulted in deforestation, biodiversity loss, and disturbed ecosystems, these locations frequently suffer the most. According to Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, the field is now considered a relic from a bygone era, having transcended its historical roots. Spivak's statement that "postcolonial is the day before yesterday" sums up the expanding belief that postcolonial studies need to change in order to address the intricate problems of the modern era.
Vandana Shiva, an environmental campaigner whose work has revealed the complex relationship between colonialism and the wanton destruction of ecological diversity, is one of the key figures in this investigation. Shiva contends that processes that were first initiated during the colonial era have been made worse by the expansion of capitalism and, more recently, the rise of transnational businesses.
While Shiva argues that these civilisations were more ecologically balanced, other scholars adopt a more cynical approach, emphasising that they still had patriarchy and hierarchy. However, there is general agreement that it is impossible to ignore the complex interactions between ecological and human culture. It is especially clear in what is sometimes called the "third world" that conversations about protecting the environment must also take into account the pressing needs of individual people and communities.The paradigm change in postcolonial studies that is being driven by environmental imperatives is highlighted in this section.
For example, The Constant Gardener (2005), the film tells the larger story of how multinational firms prioritise profits over sustainability, pushing postcolonial states to the margins of global environmental politics and causing ecological devastation in these areas.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383415195_Heroes_or_Hegemons_The_Celluloid_Empire_of_Rambo_and_Bond_in_America's_Geopolitical_Narrative
From examine how Hollywood shapes global perceptions of U.S. hegemony. How do these films project American dominance, and what postcolonial critiques can be applied to these narratives? Consider selecting other films or TV series that perpetuate similar hegemonic ideals.
➣ Throughout history, the Rembo and James Bond film series have been influential in advancing US geopolitical viewpoints, particularly in the context of the Cold War and the ensuing globalisation. Hollywood has exercised tremendous soft power through these films, influencing how the world views American military force, ideology, and values in ways that support larger goals of American foreign policy.
"Rambo: First Blood Part II" is a classic example of how Hollywood reimagines historical events, especially the Vietnam War, to create new narratives that demonise and other non-Western countries while portraying the United States as seeking atonement for its alleged defeat. The movie captures American concerns during the Cold War and works to revive American cultural and military heroism.
"Rambo III" carries on the Hollywood custom of portraying American geopolitical goals under the prism of moral superiority and bravery. The movie then takes place in Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War, with John Rambo supporting the fighters known as the Mujahideen as they fight the Soviet Union. This presents the story as a moral crusade against communism, with the United States being portrayed as a global liberator. It also closely corresponds with the actual U.S. backing for Afghan rebels during the fight.
The Living Daylights (1987), Licence to Kill (1989), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), these three films highlight the major as a defender of freedom, human rights, and democracy. Then show the cultural hegemony like These films normalised American geopolitical viewpoints by their extensive international distribution, quietly affecting viewers everywhere and sustaining a pro-Western worldview. Then we can observed the commercial success and helping to maintain US dominance in global entertainment markets.
In light of reflect on how the film appropriates and reimagines tribal resistance against colonial powers. How can such narratives contribute to or undermine postcolonial struggles? You could relate this to other films that portray resistance or appropriation of indigenous or subaltern heroes.
➣ In RRR, Komaram Bheem, a tribal leader from the Gond community, is portrayed as a larger-than-life figure whose mission is to rescue a kidnapped tribal girl from British authorities. While historical figures and Bheem's actual struggle was centred on defending tribal rights, the movie frames it as a component of a larger nationalist resistance movement against colonialism.
Both Raju and Bheem are respected for standing up to repressive governments that violated the rights of indigenous people. Raju battled the British, especially when the Madras Forest Act of 1882 limited Adivasi access to their customary forest areas. Conversely, Bheem spearheaded an opposition movement against the Nizam of Hyderabad, embodied by the catchphrase "Jal, Jangal, Zameen" (Water, Forest, Land).
Indigenous groups are frequently in the forefront of the effects of climate change, having to relocate as a result of the destruction of their territory. These tribes usually manage their lands responsibly, thus this loss affects not only their dwellings and cultural activities but also has wider ecological effects. The displacement of indigenous communities and the destruction of their environments continue today, driven not by foreign rulers but by domestic and global corporate interests. In addition to fighting against authoritarian rulers, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem also battled against the forces of displacement and environmental damage that still pose a threat to indigenous communities today. Their fight was to defend their people and their lands from exploitation.
Conclusion :-
In conclusion, Globalisation presents obstacles as well as opportunities for connectedness and interaction, especially for communities impacted by colonial history. Through the use of postcolonial frameworks, we are able to critically analyse the ways in which historical histories shape current global dynamics, bringing to light concerns about resistance, cultural representation, and injustice.
References :-
Barad, Dilip. (2022). GLOBALIZATION AND THE FUTURE OF POSTCOLONIAL STUDIES. 10. 186-200. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376374570_GLOBALIZATION_AND_THE_FUTURE_OF_POSTCOLONIAL_STUDIES. Accessed on 19 Sep, 2024.
Barad, Dilip. (2022). GLOBALIZATION AND FICTION: EXPLORING POSTCOLONIAL CRITIQUE AND LITERARY REPRESENTATIONS. 10. 177-185. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376371617_GLOBALIZATION_AND_FICTION_EXPLORING_POSTCOLONIAL_CRITIQUE_AND_LITERARY_REPRESENTATIONS. Accessed on 21 September, 2024.
Barad, Dilip. (2022). POSTCOLONIAL STUDIES IN THE ANTHROPOCENE: BRIDGING PERSPECTIVES FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. 10. 201-213. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376374708_POSTCOLONIAL_STUDIES_IN_THE_ANTHROPOCENE_BRIDGING_PERSPECTIVES_FOR_A_SUSTAINABLE_FUTURE. Accessed on 20 September,2024
Barad, Dilip. (2024). Heroes or Hegemons? The Celluloid Empire of Rambo and Bond in America's Geopolitical Narrative. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383415195_Heroes_or_Hegemons_The_Celluloid_Empire_of_Rambo_and_Bond_in_America. Accessed on 21 September, 2024.
Barad, Dilip. (2024). Reimagining Resistance: The Appropriation of Tribal Heroes in Rajamouli's RRR. 10.13140/RG.2.2.30146.80329. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383603395_Reimagining_Resistance_The_Appropriation_of_Tribal_Heroes_in_Rajamouli. Accessed on 21 September, 2024.
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