Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 05:36:09 +0200
From: Marie-Therese Abdel-Messih <mamessih-AT-gega.net>
Subject: Re: The British Empire Writes Back


Perhaps Arab theorists are rare because of the reasons you've mentioned,
but
they do  exist. Nasr Abu Zeid is the most prominent example. He
attempted a
modern interpretation of the Qoran and was harassed till he had to leave
Egypt
for Leiden. Still, more modern interpreters manage to survive. (Sayyed
al-Qimni
and said al-Ashmawi among others). Critics from different Arab nations
are
oppositional even if not overtly so. We have learned to read the
unvoiced in a
text.
I think the arabo-islamic tradition is only an inverse colonial
discourse used
by Arab politicians to reinforce their power. Within our daily life we
keep
shifting between numerous cultures. This has had its effect on Arabic
grammar.
The structure of arabic has been developing since Taha Hussein.
Innovations in
free verse and prose verse have restructured Arabic grammar.
At present there are attempts at theorizing Egyptian popular literature,
and
contributions in vernacular poetry and fiction are acknowledged even by
the
state literary institutions.
If the media diffuses an arabico-islamic tradition there is a strong
resistance
in everyday life.
Indeed Lisa this fosters Maya's point that a text can be at once a form
of
theory and critique.
Marlene expresses the need for translators, but translating from Arabic
is
obstructed by financial and cultural problems.
However Eric I am not that pessimistic about Anglo-American scholars.
Lately, we
had a workshop in Cairo with American, British and French scholars
debating
Arabic literary works. They were few, it is true, but if in English this
may be
ignored as "a drop in the bucket", in Arabic it is said: " A drop
signals a
torrent"!
Marie-Therese Abdel-Messih
Mohammed Abouzaid wrote:

> Arab contributions to postcolonial theory certainly exist (Well, Edward Said
> would do), but they're rarely written in Arabic.  The problem lies partly
> with the religious/scriptural baggage that the (written, classical) language
> carries (Basically the Koran having been written 14 centuries ago, it is
> more than surprising the language has not changed in structure, except for
> the elimination of a few words - from daily discourse that is, and the
> introduction of others).  Within the dominant arabo/islamic tradition, the
> very concept of archaic, obsolete language is impossible (how can the word
> of god be obsolete?); in fact, I remember when i was still in school that
> examples from arabic "grammar" (those who know something about arabic
> "grammar" will understand what makes the word untranslatable to english),
> where oftentimes derived from the Koran -- i.e:  a text written 14 centuries
> ago is supposed to be the model for how we think language.
> Given these constraints, i doubt the very possibility of a "theory" that is
> not the exclusive domain of a "westernized" elite is possible.  The
> oppositional discourses such a theory would cary have no place in the
> discursive realm allowed by the arabic language (note that I am still
> talking exclusively here of what I referred to above as the dominant
> arabo/islamic  tradition.  Religious minorities in the Arab world have their
> own worries about the survival of their millenial traditions, and ethnic
> minorities (and I am only familiar with the example of the maghreb) often
> revert to the colonial language (french) in their attempts to forge a
> recognized identity in their society).  Maybe that's art is the only
> contribution we've seen is in art.
>
> If a postcolonial theory were to develop, it would have to do so in what you
> call "arabics".  But then, none of these arabics are written languages, and
> as rich as they are with oral traditions, it is difficult to see a
> "postcolonial theory" develop in an unwritten language (i know you can
> always use arabic script to represent these languages, but everyone I know
> who learned "written arabic" has this tendency to immediately revert to
> "classical arabic" whenever they see a written text).  Furthermore enourmous
> political barriers would face the development of such a regionally specific
> theory ("Attempt to the split the Union of the Umma:  Westernized
> pro-Zionist thinkers working for the forces of the imperialist west are
> trying to destroy the sacred unity of the Arab world" is probably what you
> would here from 99% of the permitted press in the arab world).
>
> mohammed
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Marie-Therese Abdel-Messih <mamessih-AT-gega.net>
> To: postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
> <postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu>
> Date: Thursday, April 27, 2000 7:27 AM
> Subject: Re: The British Empire Writes Back
>
> >You are all wondering whether there is postcolonial theory in Arabic! I
> >just
> >want to remind you  that Arabic does not refer to the language and
> >culture of
> >one ethnic group. There are Arabics even though there are political
> >efforts to
> >stereotype them all as one ARABIC.
> > I believe that our best contribution in postcolonial discourse has been
> >represented in the visual arts. Perhaps we are still stumbling about in
> >point of
> >theory because Arabic as language and/or discourse is associated with
> >the
> >unquestionable sacred tradition.
> >Few bilingual researchers are now involved in postcolonial studies.
> >There is some difficulty, however,
> >publishing in Western journals probably because Arabic works are
> >not read by a large European public.
> >Certainly, there is a need for Arabic to be represented on a wider
> >scale, and I'm
> >sure this will create a better understanding of the proliferating
> >Arabics!
> >Marie-Therese
> >
> >Lisa Anne McNee wrote:
> >
> >> Dear Maya,
> >> I think that many would argue that the Creolistes from the French
> Caribbean
> >> should be considered. You may want to look to Patrick Chamoiseau and to
> >> Edouard Glissant. A key text is the Eloge de la Creolite, which
> Chamoiseau
> >> wrote in collaboration with Bernabe and Confiant. And can we even imagine
> >> Homi Bhabha's work without the commentaries on Frantz Fanon? There are
> many
> >> other critics whom you may find interesting, but that would be a start.
> As
> >> for postcolonial theory in other languages, I think it would be
> interesting
> >> to hear from those members of the list who speak and read Arabic. I am
> sure
> >> that there must be a wealth of poco criticism and theory in Arabic that
> has
> >> yet to be translated, but I do not have access to it, as I have never
> >> studied the language. I do know that some works are available in
> >> translation, though. In Wolof, a Senegalese language that I have studied
> and
> >> used in my research, oral poetry performances and song were used to mock
> >> colonialists in the past. It would be interesting to re-examine satirical
> >> songs and poetry in light of your point #3. You might find it interesting
> to
> >> look at historians' work on social commentary, given that (at least in
> >> African Studies) they have done fascinating work on performances that
> >> critique colonial rule.
> >> Hope this helps. Lisa
> >>
> >> ----------
> >> >From: Maya S Dodd <msdodd-AT-clas.ufl.edu>
> >> >To: Shyamal Gupta <shyamal-AT-iname.com>
> >> >Subject: The British Empire Writes Back
> >> >Date: Mon, Apr 24, 2000, 12:33 PM
> >> >
> >>
> >> >Exhausted in my quest to discover postcolonial "theory" in languages
> >> >other than english, Mishra and Hodge's words ring truer than ever: "Does
> >> >the post-colonial only exist in English"-- or French for that matter.
> >> >    The problem though is probably compounded by
> >> >1. a lack of translation from "native' languages into english.
> >> >2. the location of prominent postcolonialists
> >> >3. problems of "genre" which do not accord the writings/other forms of
> >> >"postcolonial commentary" to rightfully be included in those anthologies
> >> >on "poco theory.
> >> >
> >> >Any "new directions" for seeking poco theory_NOT IN ENGLISH_ would be
> >> >appreciated.
> >> >Thanks
> >> >Maya Dodd.
> >> >
> >> >
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> >> >
> >>
> >>      --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
> >
> >
> >     --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
> >
>
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