Postcolonial Literature: Exploring Themes and Theories

This essay provides a critical examination of postcolonial literature, exploring its key concepts, theories, and significant works. The introduction highlights the importance of postcolonial theory in addressing the consequences of decolonization, particularly in communication and media. The main body delves into postcolonial art forms like Negritude, Black Atlantic, Afrofuturism, and Creolisation, as well as the theory of identity. The essay analyzes key literary works such as Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness,' R.K. Narayan's 'Swami and Friends,' Chinua Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart,' Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's 'Decolonising the Mind' and 'The River Between,' and Frantz Fanon's 'The Wretched of the Earth,' examining themes of imperialism, cultural identity, and the impact of colonialism. The essay also explores Edward Said's concept of Orientalism, the role of language in postcolonial contexts, and the perspectives of various postcolonial theorists. The conclusion summarizes the key arguments and the enduring significance of postcolonial literature in understanding the complexities of cultural and political independence.

ART, MEDIA & LITERATURE -
POSTCOLONIAL
LITERATURE

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Postcolonial literature tends to effectively address the consequences and problems
associated with the decolonization of the country (Bernards, 2016). The postcolonial theory is
significant in addressing the issues related with the post- coloniality within the forefront in
communication and media. This helps in understanding the key concepts associated with the
cultural and political independence related with the formerly subjugated people. The postcolonial
literature is useful in addressing the issues by effectively applying range of theory. This study
will focus on critically examining the various set of postcolonial literatures.
MAIN BODY
Postcolonial art is considered to be as an art which has been produced significantly
associated with the aftermath of the aftermath of the colonial rule. The postcolonial art is useful
in effectively addressing key issues associated with the cultural identity, race, national identity
and ethnicity. Post- colonial theory is significant because it tends to effectively look at the key
relevant issues related with the economics, art, religion, power, culture, media and literature. The
post- colonial theory in turn tends to underpin the postcolonial art and tends to simply relate with
the time which helps in attaining national gain. This is also significant in gaining independence
from the colonial ruler (Suhr-Sytsma, 2017). Negritude is considered to be as the anti- colonial
political and cultural movement which has been founded by the group of Caribbean and African
students in the Paris in the year 1930. this reclaims the key value associated with the African and
blackness culture. Negritude artist has significantly incorporated characteristics and concepts
which has been derived from the diverse range of sources in order to effectively critique in
relation with the imperial art and imperialism. Another post- colonial art is black Atlantic. This is
useful in describing the fusion of the black cultures with the other culture across the Atlantic.
Moreover, Afrofuturism is considered to be as a cultural aesthetic which mainly combines
history, science fiction and fantasy in order to effectively explore the American- African
experience which aims to link up those from black diaspora which is one of the lost African
ancestry. The Creolisation art mainly focuses on effectively describing the mixing together of the
diverse culture and people in order to become one (Mendes, 2016). However, the ideology of the
Creolisation has effectively gained prominence during the time of second world war. At this time
the key politicians like Aime Cesaire and scholars like Martinique poet has wrote about the key

ambiguities related with the Caribbean life. The Creolisation is significant in describing the
cultural complexity of the world and diverse society across the globe. Within the postcolonial
studies, the theory of identity mainly emphasizes on the specific social identities which are
historically rooted, collective political projects and are also historically rooted (Campbell, 2019).
The postcolonial theory is significant in addressing the issues related with the post- coloniality
within the forefront in communication and media. Postcolonial literature tends to effectively
address the consequences and problems associated with the decolonization of the country.
Joseph Conrad heart of darkness (1899) penguin 2007, is considered to be as one of the
thrilling tale of the Marlow, seaman and wanderer recounting the psychological and physical
journey in the appropriate search of infamous ivory trader Kurtz. The writer significantly expose
the baleful operations which has been happening all the time across the globe. Joseph Conrad
mainly focuses on effectively exposing the ugliness of the planet for which the individual is
responsible for. This is useful in effectively provide frame for the Marlows's story. Moreover, the
Conrad tends to significantly offer parallel between Africa and London for the place of darkness.
This novella tends to have double meaning within the title of the book. The first meaning is
associated with the interior of the Africa known as Congo. However, the other hidden meaning is
linked with the primitiveness or the darkness which every individual tends to possess the mind
and heart of the person. The heart of darkness is considered to be imperialism. However, the
imperialism is referred to as the actual European colonization of the countries from African and
Asian continents for the specific set of resources. Marlow tends to mainly accept the taking of
the African land from the people is not considered to be right. The Edward in the Orientalism
Pengiun tends to significantly survey the nature and also the history of the Western attitude.
Orientalism is referred to as a powerful European idea creation in order to effectively deal with
the eastern culture, beliefs and customs. Orientalism has better understanding associated with the
empire and colonialism.
R.K. Narayan: Swami and Friends (1935) Vintage, 2000: Swami and Friends is referred
to as the first trilogy of the novels. The first book which has been written by the R.K. Narayan is
set within the fictional town known as Malgudi. The 2nd and the 3rd book within the trilogy are
considered to be as the bachelors of arts and the other book is the English teacher (Attwell, Pes
and Zinato, (Eds.). 2019). The key theme associated with the Swami and Friends is lined with the
power, disobedience, conflict, authority, control, independence and rebellion. The key guides of

the theme within the Swami and Friends novel is mainly associated with the dishonesty,
hypocrisy, karma, feminism, materialism, transformation, past and present. The Swami has only
wished to inform the four of his friends associated with what must have happened. This is
because he can only take those four friends in the confidence (Romeo, 2017). The Swami has
always cherished its friendship with one another. The novel of the R. K Narayan mainly focuses
on briefly explaining the sweetness of the child- hood and also the key relevance and importance
of friendship.
Chinua Achebe: Things fall apart (1958) penguin 2001, it is considered to be as one of
the key compelling story associated with the battle of one man in order to significantly protect
the community related with the forces of change. The key purpose of this literature is to
effectively evaluate the dynamic and complex society to the specific western audience which
helps in perceiving the African society as a simple, primitive and also backward. The key
significance of this novel is that, without any proper balance things tend to fall apart. The key
concept related with the concept of the balance is highly important. Without balance the order to
carry out specific balance is the lost. Decolonising the mind is linked with the politics of the
language within the African literature. Post-colonial theorist Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, tends to have
significant collection of the essays associated with the language. This is signifiant in taking wide
set of constructive role associated with the national identity, culture and history. Moreover, the
Chinua Achebe tends to carry out a creative writing where the Africans tends to set the
authenticity and also handle with utmost degree of authenticity.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, The river between (1965) Heinemann, 1989, the common sense is
significant in effectively dictating the literacy practice associated with the other culture. This is
one of the key prominent measure which is useful in measuring how far the imperialism has been
significantly distorted for the view of African realities. Africa is considered to be as the
phenomenon which actually enriches in Europe. It has been believes that, the Africa needs
Europe in order to effectively rescue it from the poverty. The natural resource and also human
resource must continuously focus on developing the America and Europe. The decolonizing the
mind has effectively suited the moment within the Africa where we do not notice timelessness.
Moreover, the globalization tends to effectively require a hegemonic language for the
international communication (McNamara, 2018). Sustaining the world where even the
impossible dream which helps in nurturing the world. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o has been significantly

arguing for the mother tongue and also for the inhabitation of the non- hegemonic languages
where there seems to be wide set of imaginative uses in order to retain English. They tend to
effectively focus on retaining the English as their first and foremost language for international
communication (Cadera, Martín Matas, 2017).
The Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth tends to effectively state that, within the
colonised country the most savage, elementary and undifferentiated nationalism is the most
efficient and fervent means in order defend any specific national culture. The nation tends to
effectively gather together the various set of indispensable elements which is highly significant
for the creation of the culture. It helps the nation in effectively giving validity, credibility and
creative power. The first and foremost necessity is to re- establish the nation in order to
effectively give life to the national culture within the biological sense.
Orientalism is referred to as the academic designation for the specific topic or a field of
study. This is a style of the thought process which relies upon the epistemological and
ontological distinction between 'the Occident' and 'the Orient'. Moreover, the Orientalism tends
to highlight on the key stereotypes which has been made upon the Orient by the western
academics. This mainly comprise of haunting, making assumptions regarding gender
, strange
, exoticism
, romantic
, timeless
, making assumptions regarding race, extraordinary
, Oriental is degenerate, Orient is feminine
and Orient as a danger to the West. Within Orientalism, the Edward has established the fact that,
the history, journey, stereotype, fable, polemical confrontation. However, these are considered to
be as the key lenses which is significant in experiencing Orient. It is very useful in shaping
perception, language and form of the encounter between West and East.
Nietzsche, qtd. Examined the fact that, a mobile army of the metonyms, metaphors and
anthropomorphisms is considered to be as the sum of the human relation which can be
effectively transposed, enhanced and also embellished rhetorically and poetically (Lombardi-
Diop, 2020). One of the key broad criticism associated with the Orientalism is ignoring

resistance with west, a historical, ignoring resistance by colonised natives, ignoring gender
difference and vague.
Edward established the fact that, Culture and Imperialism, the heart and darkness and the
image of Africa is the only literature where the work has been extra ordinarily caught up (Farsi,
2018). It is also indeed the organic part of the scramble for Africa that is considered to be as a
contemporary linked with the Conrad's position. Joseph Conrad from the Heart of Darkness,
tends to effectively state that, the conquest of the earth which mainly demonstrates that, taking it
away from those who tends to have varied set of complexities. The emergence of the novel is
fortified where each of them tends to have normative method of occurrence which eventually
leads to better operational growth.
The Homi K Bhabha from the location of the culture, demonstates that, one of the key
significant objective associated with the colonial disclosure is to significantly interpret the
colonised population. It is useful in justifying the conquest and it also helps in establishing the
system of instruction and administration. The colonial disclosure is significant in producing the
colonized as the social reality which helps in gaining prescribed set which are visible and
knowable. English is considered to be as the key prominent language of the ruling class. It is
considered to be spoken by high class of natives at governmental seats. English is considered to
be as one of the key prominent language of the 2 great European communities which is
Australasia and South of Africa. Every year communities are becoming way to important and is
highly connected with the British Empire.
Thomas B. Macaulay's minute upon education in the year 1853 at the time of Post-
colonial studies states that, it is impossible to educate the people with the limited set of means. It
is important to enrich those set of dialects where the key terms of the science have been
significantly borrowed from the European nomenclature. It is significant in rendering degrees to
effectively convey knowledge to the vast set of population.
Flora Nwapa: Efuru (1966) Heinemann, 1989, has effectively stated about the
construction of the gender at the time during colonial period (Neumann and Rippl, 2020). It is
also highly significant in developing relationship between the post- colonialism and feminism.
Spivak on the “French Feminism in an International Frame” tends to effectively demonstrate
that, how the individual person can learn from and also interact with the millions of illiterates
from the urban and rural Indian women who tends to live within the pores of capital and is also

not accessible to the dynamics of the capitalist. It is useful in allowing shared channels of the
communication. As per the key discussion points of the Kandyoti it has been effectively
evaluated that, inner sanctrum associated with the group identity in turn tends to have high
degree of serious implications upon which how women who tends to belong to different religion,
ethnic background, class and religion (Yan and Hannah, 2018). This study is also significant in
examining the ups and down related with the secular nationalism. There seems to be high degree
of significant way which is useful in evaluating that, the regulation associated with the gender is
considered to be highly central for the highly articulation associated with the cultural differences
and identity. One of the immediate casualty associated with the breakdown of the secularist
project in order to earn civil rights against women. However, wherever the women tend to
continue to serve as the boundary markers associated with the different ethnic, national and also
religious collectivises. There seems to be high degree of emergence where the citizens who in
turn are full-fledged will be jeopardized. The honour of the men has been significantly invested
in the private. The interventions within the specific realm is mainly associated with the depriving
the citizens of the honour ad also divest the individual for his own rights. There is wide set of
evidence which tends to significantly state that, modern is perilously close to the alien where the
codes of behaviour can be contemplated. It helps in examining the outright betrayal associated
with the expectations of the own communities.
Wide Sargasso Sea is one of the key significant measure which is also best known for the
literary postcolonial. It is one of the most prominent novel which has been established in the year
1966. This novel is considered to be as the anti- colonial and feminist response to the Charlotte
Bronte's. The paths have been overgrown and effectively a smell of the dead flower has been
significantly amalgamated with the fresh living smell. One of the key emphasis is on the female
characters, new ideas associated with the position of the women within the society and refusal to
conform. As per the Robert J.C. Young, if the individual has been identifying himself as a
western then it is highly crucial to understand the culture of the society. Edward established the
fact that, the individual who is simultaneously aware about the metropolitan history which has
been narrated appropriately and also dominate discourse acts (Tymoczko, 2016). There seems to
be effective underwritten culture which helps in establishing the key characters from the history
to completely understand the literature work at the time of the post- colonial period.

The penguin book of the Caribbean verse is useful in sharing the singer songwriters,
performance reports and newspaper report which has been managed in an effective and efficient
manner. As per the Kamau brathwaite, is considered to be as the part of the West Indian poets.
Brathwaite is considered to be as the highly regarded and literary historical scholars (Campbell,
2018). The work of the brathwaite is to mainly explore on the key nature of the identity of the
Caribbean and also the dichotomies which has been inherent for the search of cultural self- hood.
The brathwaite has been significantly noted for the life of the black culture both in the Africa and
also the African diaspora.
As per the John Mcloed, states that the Diaspora identifies at the beginning of the Post-
colonialism. African diaspora is the term which has been identified significantly in order to
evaluate the mass dispersion of the people from across Africa. However, the Diaspora has taken
several millions of people from the central and western Africa to varied region throughout the
Caribbean and America. The post- colonial is useful in understanding the key concepts
associated with the cultural and political independence related with the formerly subjugated
people. The postcolonial literature is useful in addressing the issues by effectively applying range
of theory. The diasporic literature tends to have wide set of concept and tends to have a
significant concept and is a significant concept which tends to mainly indicate on examining the
key literacy work. The work are mainly related with the background and the native culture.
Diaspora within the postcolonial literature is mainly the displacement of the culture or the
specific community within other cultural and geographical region. The diaspora is considered to
be as a scattered population where the origin tends to mainly lie within the separate geographic
local. The concept of the Bhabha's associated with the mimicry and hybridity. The mimicry tends
to appear when the key members associated within the colonized society and also focus on
effectively taking the culture within the colonizers. Mimicry is considered to be as the double
vision which helps in significantly revealing the ambivalence related with the colonial disclosure
which disrupts the authority. Hybridity within the post-colonial literature is linked with the
mixing up of the western and eastern culture (Lok, 2020). Moreover, within the postcolonial and
colonial literature, it is significant in effectively finding the balance between the colonial subject
which ranges from Asia or Africa. This way it is useful in finding the perfect balance between
the western and eastern cultural attributes.

Gillo Ponteverco, the battle of Algiers (1965 film) is considered to be as an Italian
Algerian historical war film which is significant in effectively examining and reconstructing the
events which in turn has been occurred within the capital city of the French Algeria. The post-
colonial model is useful in identifying and mainly emphasize on the socially and historically
rooted collective political projects. The Battle of Algiers (film, 1965) is an Italian- Algerian war
film which is directed and written by Gillo Pontecorvo and is based on the various events
occurred because of the was of Algerian against the French government in the North Africa
(1954- 1962). The whole picture was shot in style of Roberto Rossellini inspired newsreel style
in the black and white type of documentary which was further edited to add a sense of historical
authenticity (Daulatzai, 2016). The major plot of the film was about the revolutionary fighter Ali
La Pointe who was fighter between the year 1954 till 1957. This was the time when the Guerrilla
fighters within the FLN regrouped themselves and expanded the Casbah of the citadels of
Algeirs. The whole literature of film revolves around the initiation of the guerrilla movement and
the other various illegal activities and methods taking place in the colonial power.
Under the story it begins with the constructing of the revolutionary cells of the Casbah
that is the traditional quarters. Also, due to the partisan warfare among the Pied- noir and the
Muslims wherein both the sides commit the violence and with the increasing trends. For the
solution to this France government send French army paratroopers to the area of war in order to
fight and capture the various members of National Liberation Front (FLN). These paratroopers
are very neutral ad they have to solve the situation and the whole FLN leadership with the
medium of assassination and the capture. In the end the film ends with a coda depicting the
nationalist to demonstrate the riots and the conclusion was that although France won the battle of
Algiers but it lost the Algerian war.
The art of the picture included a very good photography and the picturizaton of the
movie. This is the most essential thing for the picture to be successful that the art of making the
film is very innovative and attractive. So it is in the case of The Battles of Algerian that the
photographs, the interest seductiveness and many other various type of good and innovative
scenes which made the picture more interesting and attractive to watch. The quality of the art
that is the quality of the picture was very good and effective and because of this reason only the
picture was successful as due to its good picturizaton the viewer liked the movie to a great
extent. In addition to this the media through which the movie was released all over the globe and

is having the 120 minutes and the major language in which it was released was the French and
Arabic (O'Leary, 2016). Also, being the subject of socio- political background the movie was
screened for five years in France after its release in 1971. Also, for the visual style the
cinematographer filmed it in the black and white background and also experimented with
different styles to provide the look of documentary and newsreel patter. There seems to be high
degree of key relevance between the Palestine and the post- colonialism. Occupation is
considerde to be highly significant in effectively managing the key affairs. The Palestine in turn
tends to significantly fall upon the boringly political and highly lyrical. The Palestinian
American cultural critic I.e, Edward tends to establish that, there seems to be a major figure
associated with the postcolonial thought (Dewi, 2016). However, the postcolonialism is referred
to as the academic study associated with the cultural legacy within the imperialism and
colonialism. It tends to mainly focus on the key consequences associated with the exploitation of
the colonized land and colonized people. The post- colonized literature is highly significant in
effectively evaluating the studies and culture related with the post- colonial. The post- colonial
conceptualization linked with the transnationalism, postnationalism and transatlanticism has
become mainly associated with the liberator poetics which tends to significantly release the
culture (Scott, 2019). However, the postcolonialism states that there are multiple set of
modernities which helps in effectively understanding the key relationship. The postcolonialism
literature is considered to be highly important because it helps in dealing with the wide set of
framing identities. This theory is very useful in effectively understanding the both the colonized
as well as the colonizer. It leads to rewriting of the politics and helps in gaining better
understanding related between nation and nationalism.
CONCLUSION
From the conducted study it has been summarized that, Postcolonial art is useful in
effectively addressing key issues associated with the race, cultural identity, national identity and
ethnicity. Negritude, Afrofuturism, Creolisation are the key arts associated with the Postcolonial
Art. Postcolonial theory mainly emphasize on the specific social identities which are historically
rooted, collective political projects and are also historically rooted. Joseph Conrad heart of
darkness (1899) penguin 2007, is considered to be imperialism. Joseph Conrad mainly focuses
on effectively exposing the ugliness of the planet for which the individual is responsible for.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o dictate the literacy practice associated with the other culture. Orientalism is

referred to as the academic designation for the specific topic or a field of study. The key broad
criticism associated with the Orientalism is ignoring resistance with west, a historical, ignoring
resistance by colonised natives, ignoring gender difference and vague. The concept of the
Bhabha's associated with the mimicry and hybridity. Robert J.C. Young stated that, if the
individual has been identifying himself as a western then it is highly crucial to understand the
culture of the society.