Postcolonial Studies

Question 1

Colonial desire

Answer 1

The Idea of colonialism is closely related to sexuality -> sexual language (penetrate)
sexualized exoticism -> the others sexuality is both threatening and alluring (sexual exoticism)
in the colonized country the colonizer may live out their sexuality without consequences

Question 2

Colonial Discourse

Answer 2

System of statements that regulate knowledge and beliefs about colonialism -> shapes both knowledge and beliefs

Question 3

Colonial Ideology

Answer 3

establishes hegemony
can be seen in representations
basis: europe as central modern, supiriour, culturally supreme -> Eurocentrism
violent hierarchy between colonizer and colonized Othering colonized as primitive, immature, underdeveloped
conceals the benefits of colonization & produces instead paternalist and moralist discourses of “civilizing mission” and “progress”

Question 4

Hybridity (Bhabha)

Answer 4

new transcultural Identities produced by colonization -> fusion of two cultural Identities
identity as fluid and changing (not fixed)

Question 5

Mimicry (Bhabha)

Answer 5

Colonized trying to imitate colonizers (language, behaviour)
almost the same but not quiet -> no perfect imitation otherwise there would be no need for othering
desire to be accepted by colonizer
reflects a distorted image of empire to colonizers
turns to mockery

Question 6

Imperialism

Answer 6

ideology behind colonialism

Question 7

Colonialism

Answer 7

practice of creating actual colonies (scramble for Africa)
consequence of imperialism
especially practiced my european powers

Question 8

Discourse (Foucault)

Answer 8

system of statement within which the world can be known & by which dominant groups in society constitute the field of truthby imposing specific knowledges, disciplines and Values upon dominated groups
Discourse produces knowledge which is a tool of

Question 9

Ideology

Answer 9

system of ideas and mechanisms that interpellates subjects & maintain social and economic hierarchy, relations of power and hegemony

Question 10

Postcolonialism (temporality)

Answer 10

then: period after colonization, decolonization
now: anti- or postcolonialism
now yet present: persistence of colonialism

Question 11

problems with the when of Postcolonilism

Answer 11

ongoing practices of colonialism (GB -> virgin islands)
neocolonialism (labour, capitalism)

Question 12

Where is Colonialism

Answer 12

formerly colonized areas (by europeans)

Question 13

Problems with the where of colonization

Answer 13

What about the USA/Ireland
migrationand international colonisation
countries that are affected but not colonized (China, middle east)

Question 14

Orientalism

Answer 14

Discourse that produced a body of knowledge about the east, that was articulated in the interest of western power
discourse of domination
How is the orient (and other media) represented in the western world

Question 15

Orientalism Stereotypes

Answer 15

based on binary oppositions
- timeless (nothing changes vs. modern europe
- strange bizarre (vs. rational europe)
- feminine (passive, submissive vs. masculine active europe
- degenerate ( lazy, lustful)

Question 16

Problems with Said

Answer 16

homogenizes, ignores resistance and gender differences

Question 17

neo-orientalism

Answer 17

refers to western representation of islamic world

Question 18

The “Orient” according to said

Answer 18

a european invention/a western projection
object of colonial fantasies and desires
an ideological construct based on binary oppositions & stereotypes
a reflection of the west (produced the orient AND the west

Question 19

Bhabha

Answer 19

colonial discourse is an apparatus of power. It creates and fixes difference to justify conquest
-> unstable because stereotypes need constant repetition

Question 20

ambivalence of Colonial Discourse

Answer 20

ambivalent:
relationship between colonizer and colonized
colonial subject identities. Roles are never fixed, but nead to be repeated and reinforced
between mimicry & mockery

ambivalence unsettles/treatens colonial authority & power

Question 21

Postcolonial critique

Answer 21

focuses on:
oppression that continues in the contemporary world
neocolonialism
decenters the intellectual sovereignty & dominance of the “west” and highlights different forms of histories

Question 22

Neocolonialism

Answer 22

Continuing economic hegemony. The postcolonial state remains in a situation of dependence and the former colonizers continue to act in a colonist manner