File spoon-archives/postcolonial.archive/postcolonial_1999/postcolonial.9902, message 32


Date: Sat, 6 Feb 1999 17:44:21 -0500 (EST)
From: Sharmila Mukherjee <sm396-AT-is7.nyu.edu>
Subject: Re: Some More


I don't think it's a question of "defending" the need to teach poco lit in
Western academia. That kind of tone smacks a little bit of arrogance and
polemicism. The idea is to open up a rational inquiry into this area of
academic interest. If you read histories of literature you'll find that
even an intellectual as "maligned" (by posterity I suppose) as Matthew
Arnold has accused Western culture and literary tastes of being
"provincial" and "exclusive". I don't think poco people are the pioneers
in this respect, though their intent is more overtly political
(justifiedly so). I think it's really important to have this debate going:
the nature and function of poco studies in American academia.


On Sat, 6 Feb 1999, Nel Khan wrote:

> Amongst the many reasons that Postcolonial literature should be taught
> in Western academies, an important one is to introduce Eastern/"Third
> World" system of representation, history, ideology etc. to the people
> here. In a way this would be done by the same token that the British
> tried to introduce English literature amongst the colonized (in order to
> educate them in their own ways of the world, and not lose touch with
> their home culture and heritage while in a foreign land.) Considering
> the latest trend of migration from the previously colonized countries,
> isn't it only natural that the Western world gets paid back in some of
> its own coins?  and as far as teaching postcolonial literature at the
> earstwhile colonies is concerned, I wish to say that one can never get
> enough education in one's own past history, and ever changing current
> socio-political status.
> In addition, do we need to justify teaching, for instance, Romanticism,
> or Victorian literature, or Modern literature for that matter?  Then why
> should we feel the need to defend teaching postcolonial lit.? 
> 
> Cheers!!!
> Carl and Nell.
> 
> 
>      --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
> 



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