The Future of Postcolonial Studies

   Thinking activity

 The Future of Postcolonial Studies

This blog is a task assigned by Dilip Barad sir. In this blog I am going to deal with Ania Loomba's two articles, and try to summarise and describe my overall understanding here in this blog. Here I describe my understanding in Postcolonial Studies, Globalization and The Future of Postcolonial Studies.

What is Postcolonial Study?

Postcolonial studies is an interdisciplinary field of academic inquiry that emerged in response to the historical legacies of colonialism and imperialism. This field examines the social, political, economic, and cultural implications of colonial encounters and seeks to understand how colonial histories continue to shape contemporary societies and identities.

 Postcolonial studies originated primarily in the context of literature but has since expanded to encompass a wide range of disciplines, including history, anthropology, sociology, cultural studies, and more.

Key Figures in Postcolonial Studies:

Edward Said: His work "Orientalism" (1978) is a foundational text in postcolonial studies, exploring how the West has constructed and represented the East.

Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak: Known for her essay "Can the Subaltern Speak?" (1988), Spivak discusses the challenges of representing the voices of marginalized groups within academic discourse.

Homi K. Bhabha: His concept of "hybridity" and ideas about cultural identity have been influential in postcolonial theory.

Postcolonial studies continue to evolve, incorporating insights from various regions and disciplines. It provides a framework for understanding the complexities of the postcolonial world and engaging with issues of power, representation, and social justice.

Globalization and the future of postcolonial studies (Ania Loomba 2nd edition of colonialism and postcolonialism)

This article begins by addressing the events of September 11, 2001 (9/11), the Global War on Terror, and subsequent US military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq. These occurrences pose a challenge to the conventional perspective of the world solely through a postcolonial framework. However, there is an argument that these events are also integral to the broader phenomenon of globalization.

Globalization has profoundly transformed the world, leading many proponents and critics to assert that the historical context of European colonialism is no longer as central for analysis. 

There is a suggestion to explore globalization by focusing on transnational networks, international flows, and the erosion of geographical and cultural boundaries. While these concepts are familiar to postcolonial critics, they are now being employed to advocate for a shift away from traditional narratives of colonialism and anti-colonialism.

Hardt and Negri view the United States as an imperial power acting for global interests, not just its own. However, worldwide protests against wars suggest that many don't support US actions, seeing it as both ultra-nationalist and imperialist.

Nationalism remains a strong force, shaping conflicts worldwide alongside multinational corporations. Rather than viewing the new global order versus national ideologies, it's better to see them forming alliances and conflicts.

Countries like North Korea and India developed nuclear programs against US influence, but this doesn't necessarily signify progress. India, for example, is repressive within its own borders in regions like Kashmir, yet collaborates with multinationals. Additionally, various forms of nationalism have risen, fueling movements against multinationals and sometimes opposing the US, but often associated with backward social and ideological views.

Certainly! Globalisation is apparent in various media forms, such as television advertisements and films. Here are some examples:

Coca-Cola Advertising

Coca-Cola, as a global brand, uses TV advertisements to showcase its products worldwide.

Commercials often feature diverse settings, people, and languages to connect with a global audience.

During festive seasons, ads incorporate cultural celebrations from different countries to emphasize unity and happiness.

Online Streaming Services:

Platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ have expanded globally.

They offer content catering to diverse audiences, producing original series and movies in multiple languages.

Shows like "Money Heist" and "Squid Game" gained global popularity due to their accessibility and appeal across cultures.

In media, particularly in TV ads and movies, globalization is evident through a deliberate effort to reach diverse audiences by embracing cultural diversity, using multiple languages, and incorporating themes that transcend geographical boundaries.

Hollywood Movies:

Hollywood films exemplify globalization in the entertainment industry.

Produced with global appeal, these movies are distributed and marketed internationally.

They feature diverse casts, blend different cultures, and incorporate themes resonating across borders.

                THE FUTURE OF POSTCOLONIAL STUDIES

Rob Nixon criticizes American environmental writing for glorifying wilderness while neglecting the history of colonized peoples and non-American geographies.

Ken Saro Wiwa, leading MOSOP in Nigeria, protested against oil drilling's environmental devastation, with Shell Oil later admitting involvement in his execution.

Chittaroopa Palit from NBA notes the limitations of international factors and supports the significance of grassroots movements in environmental protests.

Resistance against forest exploitation in Central India involves Maoist guerrillas, facing opposition from the police and army.

Dipesh Chakrabarty, after extensively studying various theories for 25 years, found himself unprepared to analyze the global environmental crisis of climate change.

Environmental activist Vandana Shiva links colonialism with environmental destruction, emphasizing the exacerbation of damage by capitalism and transnational corporations.

Feminist environmentalists stress the interconnectedness of ecology and human culture, particularly in third-world countries, where environmental conservation should consider community needs.

Arundhati Roy highlights India's post-independence policies aligning with global conglomerates, depriving tribal populations of traditional rights.

David Harvey redefines primitive accumulation, pointing out its persistent presence in capitalism's historical geography, with features like displacement, privatization, and suppression of alternative forms of production.

Paula Chakravartty and Denise Ferreira da Silva question Harvey's oversight on the impact of blackness and Latinidad in turning homes into precarious traps, especially in the subprime mortgage crisis, questioning how racial and cultural differences contributed to profiting from unpayable loans.

Susie O'Brien and Imre Szeman highlight that postcolonial studies have uniquely emphasized the connections between cultural forms and geopolitics over the last four decades. However, they urge for a deeper engagement with historical work to better understand the relationship between culture and geopolitics. They argue that focusing narrowly on the present obscures our understanding of the world and stresses the importance of comprehending pre-colonial histories for a more sophisticated approach to the present.

Ania Loomba concludes by pointing out new avenues for postcolonial studies, including environmental concerns, indigenous histories, premodern cultures, and the ongoing impacts of global capitalism on territories and communities. These areas demand a fresh reevaluation of colonial history, freedom, racial hierarchies, gender dynamics, and community structures.

Thank You… .