Lecture 5 - Postcolonial critique, West, Collins

Question 1

Difference post-colonial and decolonial

Answer 1

decolonial comes from South-America, which emancipated way earlier in history, difference is that decolonization in South-America happened before high point of capitalism

Question 2

Neo-colonialism

Answer 2

structurally adjusting land in the name of economic growth

Question 3

Colonialism, decolonization, postcolonialism

Answer 3

Colonialism: historical era and system of European empires dominating other peoples in the world
Decolonization: process of emancipation among the many nations that were subjugated
Postcolonialism: world situation after the formal end of the colonial period

Question 4

Postcolonial studies

Answer 4

Focus postcolonial studies: postcolonial condition
Interdisciplinary field of inquiry, concerned with interactions between European nations and societies they colonized in the modern period. Study of power and continued dominance of Western ways of knowing and intellectual enquiry.

Question 5

Cornel West – genealogical approach:

Answer 5

• Not explanation of the rise of modern racism, but theoretical inquiry into discursive factor, within larger explanatory model
• This is significant since it not only precludes reductionist treatments of modern racism: it also highlights cultural and aesthetic impact of the idea of white supremacy on black people
• Everyday life of black people is shaped not simply by the exploitative capitalist system of production but also by cultural attitudes and sensibilities, including alienating ideals of beauty