Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 11:47:11 -0700 From: "Paul [not \"Brian\"] Brians" <brians-AT-mail.wsu.edu> Subject: Re: Can the Subaltern speak? I've always thought that the point of this question was to point out that those who pretend to speak for the "subaltern" are by their very literacy and acculturation inauthentic spokespersons. But then I don't pretend to understand Spivak. Anyway, if there is any constant pattern in postcolonial literature it is that anyone widely accepted and representative of or as a spokesperson for a particular ethnic or national group is quickly rejected as inauthentic by other persons from the group. This is especially true of poor souls unfortunate enough to win the Nobel Prize or have their books made into movies. In this sense, the subaltern can't speak because they are always being shushed and told they aren't _real_ subalterns now that they've got everybody's ear. Paul Brians, Department of English,Washington State University Pullman, WA 99164-5020 brians-AT-wsu.edu http://www.wsu.edu/~brians --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005