From: "Lisa Greenstein" <greenstein-AT-hotmail.com> Subject: Re: environment and development Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 21:22:03 GMT >Marion wrote: I have also wondered about that and even more often wondered why so little of postcolonial theory cross-pollinates with development studies, even though they are both mucking around in the same terrain. Do you speak of postcolonial theory as something independent of postcolonial literatures? (is that a chicken-egg scenario, or is there a structure to the flow of ideas between theory and fiction?) I'm thinking of Margaret Atwood's *Surfacing* as a text which offers some themes of "integrating issues of culture and identity with environment and economy", as you put it. It's not exactly new, and I don't know if it emerges from/ provokes any body of critical thought. >Personally, I really would like to see postcolonial studies grapple with >the immense modernizing projects and international development projects >undertaken in young nations, fostered by the very same political leaders >who articulated the corroding effects of >colonization upon indigenous culture (for example Jawaharlal Nehru in >India). Until we do so, we have really ignored history. I wonder if, on a scale from grass-roots to ivory tower, politics, particularly development projects, aren't regarded as a bit of a mucky place for theorists - hence the distaste for anything that might read as activist. I mean, honest engagement with development projects entail some surrendering of irony for commitment to social change. Perhaps i'm getting myself into hot water, but I suspect that many theorists like to retain irony (distance, a little back door) at all costs:-) Lisa, who exchanged the inadequate dictionary for the New Oxford, and is technically empowered to look up 'limerance' ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005