While she recognizes the shortcomings, gayatri chakravorty spivak also pays a great deal of attention to what she calls strategic essentialism, as engaged in by the subaltern studies group subaltern studies. Together they interrogate the contradiction between the historicity of identity, which is always fluid over place and time, and common scholarly assertions of a static and ahistorical origin for an identity community whether religious, national. Spivak s main focus presents ethical issues in exploring different cultures base on universal concepts and frameworks. Spivak s oeuvre, it is also attentive to its frayed edges, gaps and critical snags. Derridean background, spivak advocates for strategic essentialism as a way for marginalized groups to achieve discursive power. Spivak s idea has been totally influential, and not just for postcolonialists. Strategic essentialism in the boundary 2 interview, spivak wistfully pronounces that, of the two things she is best known for, both are often misunderstood. Considered one of the most influential postcolonial intellectuals, spivak is best. The subaltern studies group, for example, succeeds in unraveling official indian history by particularizing its narrative. Spivaks main focus presents ethical issues in exploring different cultures base on universal concepts and frameworks. She is known for her english translation of jacques derridas seminal work of grammatology, and her own philosophical writings on the postcolonial condition that introduced the term subaltern into the philosophical lexicon. The strategic value of essentialism article pdf available in social and personality psychology compass december 2017 with 687 reads how we measure reads. It refers to a political tactic in which minority groups, nationalities, or ethnic groups mobilize on the basis of shared gendered, cultural, or political identity to represent themselves.
Ive been reading a book recently called feminist theory and christian theology by serene jones. Spivaks strategic essentialism is then applied to scrutinize this particular issue. Strategic essentialism pande major reference works. Strategic essentialism and radical intradisciplinarity aag. Strategic essentialism and radical intradisciplinarity. Globalization, spivak says, is the imposition of the same system of exchange everywhere. Strategic essentialism literary theory and criticism. Strategic essentialism i n the boundary 2 interview, spivak wistfully pronounces that, of the two things she is best known for, both are often misunderstood.
Spivak critiques western theorists and writers, such as marx to foucault, deleuze, and derrida. The political practice of overlooking the fact that from a poststructuralist perspective essences in a. This suggests that the interplay between essentialism and antiessentialism. Spivak coined the term strategic essentialism, which refers to a sort of temporary solidarity for the purpose of social action. This would be an act of strategic essentialism that would allow us to be productive in the research and inquiry. Posts about strategic essentialism written by oj27. Jan 01, 1995 gayatri chakravorty spivak is university professor at columbia university. You know, i gave a long inter view in the opening issue of differences where i said that i no longer want to use.
The term was coined by spivak and has been influential in feminism, queer theory, and postcolonial theory. Spivakian concepts of essentialism and imperialism in gabriel garcias 93 a theorist like gayatri spivak concentrates on the dangers of counting that it was a simple issue to allow the subalterns to express themselves, without knowing that their essential subjectivity had been and still was constrained by the discourses. Another example is spivaks famous notion of strategic essentialism, which presents a double bind since it, on the one hand, recognizes that essentialism of identity is at play, but on the other hand acquiesces that the flattening of identificatory differences is necessary to secure political agency and bind subjects together for. Diana fuss 1989 has argued that the essentialism constructionism binary blocks innovative thinking, providing people with too easy a basis for unreflective dismissal. These continuing intersecting processes may inspire strategic essentialism among minority groups as a necessary albeit disputed way of obtaining media attention and recognition. Sep 25, 2012 another example is spivaks famous notion of strategic essentialism, which presents a double bind since it, on the one hand, recognizes that essentialism of identity is at play, but on the other hand acquiesces that the flattening of identificatory differences is necessary to secure political agency and bind subjects together for. While strong differences may exist between members of these groups, and amongst themselves they engage in continuous debates, it is. Spivak coined the term strategic essentialism in her 1984 interview with elizabeth grosz, a term that has subsequently come to be synonymous with her name, fame, and reputation, as one of the most cited concepts in contemporary theories of identity, be it feminism, postcolonialism, or cultural studies. In some instances, she argued, it was important strategically to make essentialist claims, even while one retained an awareness that those claims were, at best, crude political generalizations. Spivakian concepts of essentialism and imperialism in gabriel. Gayatri chakravorty spivak articulates that to an extent, we have to look at where the group the person, the persons, or the movementis situated when we make claims for or against essentialism. For example, womens groups have many different agendas that potentially make it difficult for feminists to work together for common causes. Sara danius, stefan jonsson, gayatri chakravorty spivak source.
Anthropologists approaches to essentialism, ethnification and culturalization are discussed, and by way of conclusion, the article discusses gayatri spivak s. These are symptomatic of capitals tendency to homogenize and assimilate. Spivaks landmark contribution to this debate was the concept of strategic essentialism. Strategic essentialism is a term first coined by gayatri chakravorty spivak, a postcolonial feminist philosopher and literary theorist. Strategic essentialism allows for disparate groups to accept temporarily. Strategic essentialism, a major concept in postcolonial theory was introduced by the indian literary critic and theorist gayatri chakravorty spivak. While some atheists might find it odd to read books on theology, ive always found it interesting and important to see what currents are moving in other peoples lives and in other groups of people, particularly when those groups of people. Pdf strategic essentialism is a strategy by which differences within a group are temporarily. Apr 04, 2017 strategic essentialism, a major concept in postcolonial theory, was introduced in the 1980s by the indian literary critic and theorist gayatri chakravorty spivak. I will try to describe the mechanism of the nationalist discourse, which is increasingly popular in the public sphere of the country. Deconstructing historiography, posits that although essentialism is highly problematic for the knowledge it creates about the other, there is sometimes a political and social need for what she calls strategic essentialism. She is a university professor at columbia university and a founding member of the establishments institute for comparative literature and society.
Strategic essentialism, the subaltern, the other karl marx jacques derrida antonio gramsci michel foucault ranajit guha mahasweta devi gayatri chakravorty spivak born 24 february 1942 is an indianscholar, literary theorist, and feminist critic. What exactly does spivak mean by strategic essentialism. Deconstructing the moment of representation with spivak and. Spivaks idea has been totally influential, and not just for postcolonialists.
New and selected poems, 196420, university of nebraska press, lincoln, 2014, p. Thoughts on strategic essentialism posted on february 14, 2011 by benji hart the first chapter of juana maria rodriguez queer latinidad, divas, atrevidas y entendidas, provided me with some useful vocabulary, and raised some important questions about the formation and categorization of marginalized identities in relation to the. The first was her answer to the question can the subaltern speak. Gayatri spivak 1988 famously wrote of a strategic essentialism that could invoke a collective category like. Nov 12, 2018 this would be an act of strategic essentialism that would allow us to be productive in the research and inquiry. Essentialism was presumed to be a negative aspect of feminism.
Spivakian concepts of essentialism and imperialism in. Doc can the subaltern speak summary minu vettamala. Spivakian concepts of essentialism and imperialism in gabriel garcias 93 a theorist like gayatri spivak concentrates on the dangers of counting that it was a simple issue to allow the subalterns to express themselves, without knowing that their essential subjectivity had. Strategic essentialism in reducing gender inequalities. Anthropologists approaches to essentialism, ethnification and culturalization are discussed, and by way of conclusion, the article discusses gayatri spivaks. Indeed, by strategic essentialism, lindo still upholds her value as a chinese woman and her respect to her filial piety, also, she can obtain her own independence as a woman. At some organizations have at times emphasized a occasions, gayatri spivak, who. Designmethodologyapproach the paper uses postcolonial theory to make a case for contingent representation, i.
If this language is unfamiliar to you, gayatri spivaks notion of strategic essentialism refers to the idea that it can be useful for marginalized groups to simplify their collective identity in order to help them achieve particular political ends in challenging systemic social oppression. I also thought about how to behave as a woman subject of knowl edgei am not even saying feministobliquely placed within access to. One use of a theory of discourse for feminist politics, then, is in understanding social identities in their full sociocultural complexity, thus in demystifying static, single variable, essentialist views of gender identity. A political tactic employed by a minority group acting on the basis of a shared identity in the public arena in the interests of unity during a struggle for equal rights. An interview with gayatri chakravorty spivak stable url. Pick a minority group and, we guarantee you, that group probably toyed with spivak s strategy its not a theory if its meant for political action, according to spivak. This essay explores the current situation in poland as regards the recently proposed complete abortion ban. According to this narrative, a woman is considered someone who reproduces race, capital and patriarchal system through her dependence, sexual and mental. She employs the term in her deconstructive reading of the work of the subaltern studies group. Culture on the edge is comprised of a core collaborative research group and its invited guests. Can the subaltern speak summary essay example ozziessay. Apr 07, 2017 spivak has a reputation for writing ferociously dense theoretical texts. Pick a minority group and, we guarantee you, that group probably toyed with spivaks strategy its not a theory if its meant for political action, according to spivak.
An interview with gayatri chakravorty spivak 25 ing about unlearning ones learning, i was really thinking more about how to behave as a subject of knowledge within the institution of neocolonial learning. Gayatri chakravorty spivak is university professor at columbia university. Chineseamerican woman, patriarchy, tradition, strategic essentialism. Spivak has a reputation for writing ferociously dense theoretical texts. Strategic essentialism, a major concept in postcolonial theory, was introduced in the 1980s by the indian literary critic and theorist gayatri chakravorty spivak. Essentialism is the collective grouping of an oppressed group, as if they all share similar qualities and experiences that intellectuals can then write about. Strategic essentialism by nasrullah mambrol on april 9, 2016 1. Strategic essentialism is a concept that originated with the postcolonial theorist gayatri chakravorty spivak, and it represents the idea of an oppressed group intentionally taking on stereotypes about itself in order to disrupt or subvert the dominance that oppresses or marginalizes it. These inconsistence are discussed in the final chapter of rays book where she unfurls the critics contentious evocations of strategic essentialism, a concept that ray first identifies in a 1984 interview with. She is a university professor at columbia university and a founding member of the establishments institute for comparative literature and society considered one of the most influential postcolonial intellectuals, spivak is best known for her essay can the subaltern speak. The purpose of this paper is to argue that rather than contest the artificial schism produced by social scientists between qualitative and quantitative research, we should to accept this binary, however, contingently, and use it productively. Deconstructing the moment of representation with spivak. Spivaks strategic essentialism reading on amy tans the. Anthropologists approaches to essentialism, ethnification and culturalization are discussed, and by way of conclusion, the article discusses gayatri spivaks strategic essentialism, its advantages, pitfalls and limitations.
She employs the term in her deconstructive reading of the. Key theories of gayatri spivak literary theory and criticism. Gayatri chakravorty spivak, a postcolonial feminist philosopher and literary theorist who is currently university. Apr 09, 2016 home literary criticism strategic essentialism. Spivaks oeuvre, it is also attentive to its frayed edges, gaps and critical snags. Spivak s overall claim is that western academia is. It refers to a strategy that nationalities, ethnic groups or minority groups can use to present themselves. Jul 15, 2014 strategic essentialism and radical intradisciplinarity mona domosh july 15, 2014 strategic essentialism and radical intradisciplinarity 20171020t14. Strategic essentialism and radical intradisciplinarity mona domosh july 15, 2014 strategic essentialism and radical intradisciplinarity 20171020t14.
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