Postcolonialism

Postcolonialism (also sometimes known as postcolonial theory, or post-oriental theory) refers to the legacy of 19th century European colonial [Page 1404]rule. The study of postcolonialism acknowledges that colonialism continues to affect former colonies many decades following their political independence. Postcolonial studies articulate the many and complicated histories through which colonialism is still being reproduced.

Contemporary academic inquiry on postcolonialism owes much to the work of Edward Said. His book Orientalism, one of postcolonialism theory's seminal texts, investigates and articulates the means by which colonized peoples are constructed by colonizers. Specifically, Said describes the ways in which the Western world has wrongly depicted the Orient as a strange and exotic place. Said argues that postcolonialism can only be understood by acknowledging the means that reinforce and strengthen ...