Monthly Archives for November 2013

Col…imp…capitalism….Colimpcapitalism

I was very interested in how Loomba began her analysis. She started off with the definition of colonialism.  As she mentioned, it didn’t refer to those inhabitants already there but the new comers, the ones that led to capitalism and changed the lives of many.

I found it ironic that we are reading this around the time where normally if I were in the states, we would be preparing for Thanksgiving. Yes, in the states, Thanksgiving takes place in November on a Thursday….not on a Monday. Anyway, this is the time where once a year people all across the US gather together with family and friends to celebrate the day that the Native Americans and English had their first meal. Or so we are taught when we are little. But then what happened after? Oh I remember, we took their land, we infected them with diseases, we tried to convert their faith, and we wiped out most of them or ran them off….Yes, not so peachy keen after all. I believe Loomba would agree that at first, there was colonization and then it changed into imperialism. The English wanted total control and all the wealth they could get from the land. Were they acting in the interest of the majority at the time….it depends on who you call the majority. Technically the Native Americans were the majority on the land but for the English, they themselves were in control and had the means to gain control.

Of course, it didn’t stop there. As the years went on, we were then introduced to slavery and further obsession over control leading to years of hardship and injustice. So where does it really end? Because it seems to me that colonialism has indeed led to imperialism, which is now intertwined with capitalism. Capitalism is now driving our countries into a race for the “best”, a race to sell the most goods, and a race to make the most profit. But let’s not forget that this race comes at a price. In a race there are winners and losers. The “losers” so to speak seem to be those countries running on billions of dollars in debt. Or are they? Although they are borrowing money from other countries some of them, like the US, continue to be seen as a powerhouse. So what’s behind all of this? Who is really in power?

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12. November 2013 by Syndicated User
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Orientalism

For this week post, I would like to reflect a bit more on my previous post about European memory in the light of this week readings: http://wp.me/p3Smsn-5D Eva Thompson indeed made a parallel between the construction of Europe as an object of Western European History and Orientalism: Eastern Europe is shaped by the Western European […] Continue reading →

12. November 2013 by Syndicated User
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When Literary Theory class is cancelled….even if we love Literary Theory class!

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12. November 2013 by Syndicated User
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The Power of Language

This week the reading by Thiong’o really struck me. It also made me feel sort of helpless when I thought about the way that we as academics approach the subject. I am sure I will never know or experience the hardship he went through at school; of being forced to speak the language of the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

12. November 2013 by Syndicated User
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The Power of Language

This week the reading by Thiong’o really struck me. It also made me feel sort of helpless when I thought about the way that we as academics approach the subject. I am sure I will never know or experience the hardship he went through at school; of being forced to speak the language of the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

12. November 2013 by Syndicated User
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Curricula, Colonialism and Mansfield Park

One of the things I found very interesting about all of this week’s readings was that they each presented a different focus and perspective on discussions of postcolonial and transnational studies. Loomba makes us reflect on what might be a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

12. November 2013 by Syndicated User
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Curricula, Colonialism and Mansfield Park

One of the things I found very interesting about all of this week’s readings was that they each presented a different focus and perspective on discussions of postcolonial and transnational studies. Loomba makes us reflect on what might be a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

12. November 2013 by Syndicated User
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As Foucault said: “Maybe the target nowadays is not to discover what we are but to refuse what we are.”

This week, Thiong’s article is definitely the one that “got me”. As I started to read, I expected him to try to define post-colonialism without necessarily reaching a clear definition. The other articles talked about post-colonialism, always referring to territories that are no longer under official domination. Here, Thiong talked about any territories that have […] Continue reading →

11. November 2013 by Syndicated User
Categories: Thiong'o | Comments Off on As Foucault said: “Maybe the target nowadays is not to discover what we are but to refuse what we are.”

So what is “Post-colonialism”? So what is every term?

It is very common that in many academic texts, the author use some specific terms that they presuppose the reader already know. But, it is true that it would be impossible to write an essay explaining every term, it would … Continue reading → Continue reading →

11. November 2013 by Syndicated User
Categories: Loomba, McClintock | Comments Off on So what is “Post-colonialism”? So what is every term?

How to decolonize the academia?

In “Decolonizing the mind”, Ngugi wa Thiong’o  presents a reflection about how the English language and academia built on Kenya a way of perceiving the world through the eyes of the British culture and imperialist language. The text structure addresses … Continue reading → Continue reading →

11. November 2013 by Syndicated User
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