Post Colonial Theory

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Postcolonial: Body of thought concerned with the societal, economic, cultural, historical, etc. impacts of European-led colonisation throughout the 18-20th centuries.
Themes:
- Racism/Discrimination
- Freedom/Independence/Autonomy
- Future
- Social/Cultural Changes
- Conformity
- Colonialist-related ideas (mentality, subjugation)
- Oppression
- Nationalism
- Societal/Cultural/National Identity

The act of setting and establishing ownership over the indigenous people of a geographical area. (Economic motivation)

Treating an individual or group of people as innately different from oneself or one’s group.

Othering occurred based on the personal and societal beliefs of the European colonisers who held themselves as naturally superior compared to those they colonised.
Allow opposition to be maintained
Sometimes the Other is valued as exotic, however when this is done it serves to comfort the colonising

Colonising implements their own form of schooling
- When a colonising nation implements its own education system, in doing so causing assimilation to their culture as indigenous people (children in particular) are brought up under a European education background instead of an indigenous one.
Drawn into colonial learning structures
Assimilation involves the colonised being forced to conform to cultural traditions of colonisers, and integrating in to colonial/European society.
What happens -> cultural loss, learn belief that their culture is inferior

Then when reading literature, ask yourself

How to apply a theory