Postcolonial Theory: This theoretical framework deals with the legacy of colonialism and imperialism, focusing on issues like identity, culture, power dynamics, and resistance. Key works in this field explore how colonial powers have shaped societies and how formerly colonized peoples respond to this history.
Options Analysis:
Nation and Narration: Written by Homi K. Bhabha, this book is a key text in postcolonial studies. It discusses concepts such as hybridity, cultural identity, and nation-building, all central to postcolonial theory.
Orientalism: Written by Edward Said, this foundational text critiques Western representations of the East, exposing the power dynamics and stereotypes inherent in colonial discourse. It is one of the cornerstones of postcolonial studies.
Discipline and Punish: Written by Michel Foucault, this work is a seminal text in the field of social theory and philosophy. It examines the development of disciplinary societies and power mechanisms, but it does not specifically address postcolonial issues. Hence, it cannot be categorized under postcolonial theory.
White Mythologies: Written by Robert J.C. Young, this book critically engages with postcolonial theory, particularly focusing on how Western philosophical traditions have influenced narratives of race and colonialism.
Conclusion:
"Discipline and Punish" is the only work in the list that falls outside the realm of postcolonial theory. It is instead associated with Foucauldian ideas of power, surveillance, and societal control.
Year-wise PYQs
