Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 12:53:30 -0700
From: Paul Brians <brians-AT-mail.wsu.edu>
Subject: Re: Post-col. web site


Thanks to Christopher Perrius for his thoughtful and detailed analysis of
my statement on "postcolonialism" as a concept and term. I'll be thinking
about it. But four quick corrections:

1) I am not a postcolonialist nor do I teach classes in postcolonial
literature. I do study and teach works which scholars who call themselves
postcolonialists are interested in. I read this list for the occasional
interesting tidbit I pick up, but I do not consider myself much of a
participant in the various "postcolonial projects" that I see being carried
out here. It's important that my students understand my stance, since my
goals have more to do with them understanding--say Soyinka or Narayan in
the context of their own cultures and times than from a postcolonial
theoretical perspective. Most of Perrius' analysis assumes I am trying to
teach postcolonialism. I am not. My page is merely an attempt to explain
_why_ not.

The graduate faculty in my department asked me to repeat my successful
seminar in African, Caribbean and Indian literature, and I asked if it
could be named something other than "Postcolonial Lit" but that is the hot
term and that's what they insisted on, so I thought I'd better explain
right up front why I was going to be doing something different than what
that term often suggests.

2) Many of Perrius' objections result from failing to observe the
dialectical method which my discourse follows. Many of them evaporate if
one simply pays attention to the qualifying words and phrases which
condition my statements.

3) The Web links are provided merely as handy references for poor
unfortunate beginning students who may have no idea why people are so
negative about colonalism. I have studied history in some detail and knew
what I was looking for when I searched out the links. I don't rely on the
Web _at all_ for the historical information I use. I just provide links as
a quick "hand out" to substantiate a point not central to my document but
still important for its comprehension.

4) My first name is not "Brian." It is "Paul."

Paul Brians, Department of English,Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-5020
brians-AT-wsu.edu
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians




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