Postcolonialism

This important book is a critical introduction to the rapidly expanding field of postcolonial studies. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the author draws on literary criticism, philosophy, anthropology, history and politics to develop a distinctive account of postcolonialism. Quayson discusses key debates in the field, including the implications of various forms of interdisciplinarity for postcolonial studies, the relationship between indigenous knowledge and contemporary historiography, the links between postmodernism and postcolonialism and the insights of feminism for postcolonial theory. He explores the relevance of these debates for cultural, literary and political criticism. Throughout the text, he stresses the importance of seeing postcolonialism as a process of analysis which does not simply refer to another stage after colonialism, but to a continuing struggle against colonialism and its effects. He encourages the reader to think through the issues that are raised by postcolonial theory and to relate these to political practice today. This practical application of postcolonial theory allows the author to develop dynamic new perspectives on aspects of contemporary culture, history and literature. He discusses the work of Rushdie, Morrison, Achebe, Soyinka and Okri, amongst others; many of his examples are drawn from African cultures, an area which has been hitherto neglected by postcolonial theory. Quayson also develops postcolonial approaches to the literary canon, showing how this perspective can shed new light on some of the classical works of English literature, such as those of Shakespeare. This book will be essential reading for students of literature, history, anthropology and cultural studies, as well as all those concerned with debates about postcolonial theory and its political functions.

ISBN 0745617123   Pages 216 ISBN13 9780745617121 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher John Wiley and Sons Ltd   Weight (grammes) 435 Imprint Polity Press   Published in Oxford Format Hardback   Height (mm) 229 Publication date 16 Oct 1999   Width (mm) 152 Library of Congress 99025741   Spine width (mm) 22 DEWEY 325.3   Academic level Undergraduate, Professional / Scholarly, Postgraduate DEWEY edition DC21

		Acknowledgements
		Introduction: Postcolonializing		1
1		Instrumental and Synoptic Dimensions of Interdisciplinarity		23
2		Postcolonial Historiography and the Problem of Local Knowledge		48
3		Literature as a Politically Symbolic Act		76
4		Feminism, Postcolonialism and the Contradictory Orders of Modernity		103
5		Postcolonialism and Postmodernism		132
6		Parables from the Canon: Postcolonializing Shakespeare		156
		Notes		185
		Bibliography		192
		Index		205

'Quayson's summary of the essence of the debate between Marshall Sahlins and Gannath Obeyesekere will be welcomed for its conciseness and its accuracy.' Research in African Literatures

It's becourse the author is unique, that's all. - Oheneba Akua Nti



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