Postcolonial Criticism 101

These flashcards cover key concepts and terms related to postcolonial criticism, providing definitions and explanations necessary for understanding the theory and its implications.

Postcolonialism

A critical theory analysis of the history, culture, literature, and discourse of European imperial power, focusing on the human consequences of colonialism and imperialism.

The Other

A concept introduced by Edward Said referring to viewing or treating a person or group as different and alien, often evaluated as abnormal compared to the 'normal' colonizer.

Othering

The process of viewing or treating a group as intrinsically different from and alien to oneself.

Colonialism

The imperialist expansion of Europe into the rest of the world, characterized by control and influence over margins or colonies.

Indigenous Peoples

Groups living in or attached to traditional habitats who identify with distinct cultural groups present prior to colonization.

Binarism

A mode of thought based on stable oppositions, often seen as inadequate in addressing areas of difference.

Ambivalence

The complex mix of attraction and repulsion in the relationships between colonizers and colonized, where both parties view each other with conflicting feelings.

Cultural Appropriation

The adoption or exploitation of elements from one culture by a dominant culture, often without permission and possibly causing harm.

Marginalization

The treatment of a person or group as insignificant or peripheral in society.

Stigmatization

The process of devaluing a person's identity due to perceived deviance, resulting in exclusion from social interactions.

Racialization

The social construction of races as real, different, and unequal, with societal emphasis on certain characteristics.

Hybridity

New forms arising from cross-cultural exchange, leading to richer identities as well as identity issues.

Mimicry

The imitation of the colonizer's language, dress, or behavior by members of a colonized society.

Diaspora

The dispersion of indigenous communities beyond their ancestral homelands, often by force or choice.

White Privilege

The unearned advantages and benefits granted to individuals deemed white, highlighting the social construct of race.

Decolonization

The long-term process of divesting the bureaucratic, cultural, linguistic, and psychological aspects of colonial power.

Essentialism

The reduction of individuals or groups to an 'essential' stereotype, removing individuality and nuance.