- "The critical academic study of the cultural, political and economic legacy of colonialism and imperialism."
The study of cultural production in societies that were or are colonized. It examines the intersections of race, gender, class, and nationality in the context of colonial and postcolonial power relations.
Colonialism: The historical and political context in which Postcolonial Studies emerged; the establishment and expansion of colonial empires; the exploitation of colonized nations for resources, labor, and cultural assimilation.
Imperialism: The system of political domination and economic control that characterizes colonialism; the ideologies of superiority and power underlying imperialist enterprises.
Decolonization: The process through which colonized nations gained independence, both politically and culturally; the challenges and difficulties associated with decolonization.
Orientalism: The ideological framework that portrays the East and the West as fundamentally different entities, with the West seen as superior and the East as inferior; the ways in which Orientalism reinforces colonial attitudes.
Hybridity: The blending of cultures and traditions that occurs in colonial and postcolonial societies, often resulting in new forms of identity and cultural expression.
Postcolonialism: The critical perspective that analyzes the cultural, social, and political legacies of colonialism in contemporary societies; the emphasis on the perspectives of colonized peoples and their agency in shaping their own histories.
Discourse analysis: The examination of how language and representation shape social and cultural attitudes; the identification and critique of dominant discourses that support colonialist ideologies.
Race and racism: The ways in which colonialism and imperialism produced racial hierarchies and stereotyping; the continuing impact of racism in postcolonial societies.
Gender and sexuality: The intersections of gender and sexuality with colonialism and postcolonialism; the ways in which colonialism and imperialism produced heteronormative and patriarchal structures.
Literary criticism: The analysis of postcolonial literature and its themes, motifs, and narrative strategies; the importance of literature in expressing the experiences and perspectives of colonized peoples.
Representation and identity: The role of representation in shaping identity and cultural consciousness; the ways in which postcolonial societies struggle to assert their own identities and narratives.
Globalization and transnationalism: The economic and cultural processes that underpin globalization and transnationalism; the impact of these processes on postcolonial societies and their cultures.
Indigenous studies: The examination of the history, culture, and experiences of indigenous peoples in colonial and postcolonial societies; the importance of indigenous perspectives and agency in shaping postcolonial societies.
Environmental studies: The examination of the ways in which colonialism and postcolonialism have impacted the natural environment; the importance of ecological concerns in postcolonial studies.
Subaltern studies: The focus on the marginalized and oppressed groups in postcolonial societies; the importance of their perspectives in analyzing colonialism and its legacies.
Colonial and Postcolonial Literature: This field studies the literature produced during and after the colonial period, with a focus on how colonialism shaped the production and reception of these works.
Cultural Studies: This field examines the cultural products (such as art, music, and film) that emerged as a result of colonialism, as well as the ways in which these products were appropriated and reinterpreted by colonized peoples.
Subaltern Studies: This field is concerned with the experiences of marginalized and oppressed groups (such as peasants, tribal communities, and women) in colonial and postcolonial societies, and seeks to foreground their voices and perspectives.
Postcolonial Feminism: This field explores the intersection of postcolonial and feminist theories, and investigates how gender shapes the experiences of women in postcolonial societies.
Postcolonial Theory and Criticism: This field examines the theoretical frameworks and critical methodologies that have emerged in response to the study of colonialism and its legacies, and seeks to develop new ways of understanding the complexities of postcolonial societies.
African and African Diaspora Studies: This field focuses on the experiences of Africans and people of African descent around the world, with a particular emphasis on the cultural, political, and economic consequences of colonialism and slavery.
Globalization and Postcolonialism: This field investigates the ways in which globalization has transformed postcolonial societies, and explores the tensions between local cultures and global capitalism.
Postcolonial Ecology: This field examines the ways in which colonialism and capitalism have degraded and exploited the natural environment, and seeks to develop new approaches to environmentalism that account for the socio-political dimensions of ecological issues.
Postcolonial Queer Studies: This field investigates the intersection of postcolonial and queer theories, and explores the ways in which sexuality and gender identity are shaped by colonialism and decolonization.
Global South Studies: This field examines the experiences and perspectives of countries and regions in the Global South, with a focus on the economic, political, and cultural consequences of colonialism and postcolonialism.
- "The impact of human control and exploitation of colonized people and their lands."
- "The 1960s."
- "Scholars from previously colonized countries."
- "The lingering effects of colonialism."
- "Critical theory analysis."
- "The history, culture, literature, and discourse of (usually European) imperial power." Quotes from the paragraph: