File spoon-archives/postcolonial.archive/postcolonial_1996/96-02-20.131, message 239


Date: Fri, 2 Feb 1996 15:40:01 -0500
From: "Terry Goldie" <tgoldie-AT-YorkU.CA>
Subject: subalterns


	One of the comments about Spivak gave me a thought.  Gramsci clearly
uses "subaltern" in its "accurate" sense, as a subordinate officer who has
some organizational power but no real control over anything.  For Gramsci
this is the "intellectual," such as the minor functionary in village
politics, the foreman in a factory, the village priest, etc.  On the other
hand, everyone assumes that the Indian subaltern studies group and Spivak and
the others who have responded to that group are referring to the bottom
class, the peasants,etc.  In "Can the Subaltern Speak?" the woman could be
seen as, in class terms, close to Gramsci's image, but most discuss her as
again at the bottom.  Anybody who can explain all this? Or offer a reference
which would provide same?
Terry Goldie
-- 
Terry Goldie
English Department
York University
North York, Ontario
Canada  M3J 1P3

email tgoldie-AT-yorku.ca

phone 416-604-3670	


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