Date: Thu, 7 Nov 1996 18:33:08 -0500
From: Kirstin Bratt <aw_bratt-AT-rocky.awc.cc.az.us>
Subject: Re: Fanon


At 03:28 PM 11/7/96 EST, you wrote:
>> 
>> I've been reading _Wretched of the Earth_ off and on for the past month, and
>> I'm grateful for the opportunity to discuss it with this group.  I can
>> certainly understand the desire to disregard Sartre's introduction, but
>> since I've read it already, I'd like to comment about Sartre's positioning
>> of himself and his audience.  I find it jarring--the way he posits himself
>> and his audience as white colonizers, and therefore seems to assume an
>
>As someone who finds Sartre's position in the preface both positive and
refreshing, let me make three comments:
>
>	(1) We need to read the preface in the context of its times, and
>	    the audience to which it was directed.  Sartre was, after all,
>	    a white Frenchman who had grown up in a world in which colonialism
>	    and white supremacy were normal and normative.  By presenting
>	    Fanon to French readers he is, in effect, saying those days are
>	    over, the subject can now speak for himself.
>
>	(2) While you may find it jarring that Sartre presents himself and
>	    the imaginary ideal reader he is addressing as white colonisers,
>	    I find it refreshing. Why? Because by doing so Sartre is accepting
>	    responsibility for colonialism and European cultural dominance of
>	    the colonies.
>
>	(3) A la fois, however, Sartre is also being a little self-    
>	    congratulatory (the colonised have grown up and can speak for
>	    themselves, how wonderful).  But, given his historic context,
>	    this is hardly surprising.
>
>> opposing position to Fanon.  In this way, he defines Fanon, and defines an
>> audience for Fanon--that of colonized and oppressed--before the reader is
>> even able to hear from Fanon.  In other words, Sartre frames the reading for
>> the reader, thus interpreting and positioning Fanon before the reader has
>> such an opportunity to do so independently.  
>> 
>But isn't that the job of the prefator? Precisely what is wrong with an esta-
>blished literary-academic figure presenting the work of an unknown writer to
>the public and providing a context for the work? Or are you saying that Fanon
>should not have had Sartre write the preface?

Thanks for these comments.  While reading the preface, I continually
wondered whether Fanon asked Sartre to write the preface or whether a
publisher or editor had done so.  It would make a great deal of difference
to me.  Does anyone know the answer?

 
>>      --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
>     --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---



     --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---