Ania Loomba writes, “[i]t has been suggested that it is more helpful to think of post-colonialism not just as coming literally after colonialism . . . but more flexibly as the contestation of colonial domination and the legacies of colonialism. Such a position would allow us to include people geographically displaced by colonialism such as African-Americans” (12). Drawing on Loomba’s discussion, offer a postcolonial reading of ONE of these speculative/magic realist short stories from week 4: Mohale Mashingo’s “Once Upon a Town” or Emily Raboteau’s “Mrs. Turner’s Lawn Jockeys.” PICK ONE!
Consider questions from the Lois Tyson handout as you develop your argument. For example:
How does the literary text, explicitly or allegorically, represent various aspects of colonial oppression?
What does the text reveal about the politics and/or psychology of anti-colonial resistance?
What does the text reveal about the operations of cultural difference—the ways in which race, religion, class, gender, sexual orientation, cultural beliefs, and customs combine to form individual identity—in shaping our perceptions of ourselves, others, and the world in which we live?
Your paper does not need to quote from Loomba, but it should utilize some of the basic postcolonial terms introduced by Tyson when appropriate. Ideally, papers should make a claim about one of the stories that allows for/draws on a postcolonial reading of the text.
Reminders:
Use present tense when discussing literature.
Integrate quotes and use evidence from the texts.
Make sure that the body of your paper (each paragraph) defends or explains your idea(s).
All papers must adhere to MLA guidelines.
4 double-spaced pages in Times New Roman, 12 pt. font (1 inch margins)
