Travel writing has been, is, and probably will remain, demonized by postcolonial critics. This ‘genre’ has very quickly been linked to what Edward Said named Colonial Discourse, mainly for what many believe to be an intertwined relationship with colonialism. Travel writing’s main ‘contribution’ is to have diffused sermons of difference and by difference; inferiority, which was then used a rhetorical apology by the west to conquer and colonize. David Spurr in his book The Rhetoric of Empire argues in the same direction. He suggests that travel writings constituted “a source of information” to future-colonial administrators about the situations in their future colonies; that by describing and gazing upon they already started having a sense of ownership vis-à-vis these spaces. Douglas Ivison starts his article entitled “Travel Writing at the End of Empire…” by arguing in the same direction, he says that “[t]he practice of travel writing, and that of reading travel books, was inextricably intertwined with the creation and maintenance of European imperialism. Travel and its by-product travel writing were both enabled by and essential to, both cause and effect of, the project of imperial expansionism.” (2003: 1) It is thus very clear that there is a definite yet very complex interconnection between imperialism and travel writing.
Table of Contents
1. Travel Writing in a Postcolonial World
2. The Interconnection Between Imperialism and Travel Writing
3. Colonial Discourse, Knowledge, and Power
4. Colonial Impacts and the Construction of Western Identity
5. The Traveler and the Concept of Access
6. Non-Western Perspectives and the Margins
7. Subalternity and the Destructive Gaze
8. Conclusion and Problematization
Research Objectives and Themes
The essay aims to problematize travel writing as a complex genre of colonial discourse, examining how it has functioned to sustain imperial power, construct Western identities, and shape the subaltern's self-perception.
- The role of travel writing in maintaining colonial hegemony and dominance.
- The relationship between knowledge, institutional power, and the representation of "the Orient."
- The construction of "the other" as a tool for defining Western identity.
- The concept of the traveler, social privilege, and the restriction of access.
- The psychological impact of internalizing colonial representations on the subaltern subject.
Excerpt from the Book
Travel Writing in a Postcolonial World
Travel writing has been, is, and probably will remain, demonized by postcolonial critics. This ‘genre’ has very quickly been linked to what Edward Said named Colonial Discourse, mainly for what many believe to be an intertwined relationship with colonialism. Travel writing’s main ‘contribution’ is to have diffused sermons of difference and by difference; inferiority, which was then used a rhetorical apology by the west to conquer and colonize. David Spurr in his book The Rhetoric of Empire argues in the same direction. He suggests that travel writings constituted “a source of information” to future-colonial administrators about the situations in their future colonies; that by describing and gazing upon they already started having a sense of ownership vis-à-vis these spaces.
Douglas Ivison starts his article entitled “Travel Writing at the End of Empire…” by arguing in the same direction, he says that “[t]he practice of travel writing, and that of reading travel books, was inextricably intertwined with the creation and maintenance of European imperialism. Travel and its by-product travel writing were both enabled by and essential to, both cause and effect of, the project of imperial expansionism.” (2003: 1) It is thus very clear that there is a definite yet very complex interconnection between imperialism and travel writing.
Summary of Chapters
1. Travel Writing in a Postcolonial World: Introduces the critical view of travel writing as a form of colonial discourse that facilitates imperial expansion.
2. The Interconnection Between Imperialism and Travel Writing: Explores the symbiotic relationship between travel narratives and the political projects of European imperialism.
3. Colonial Discourse, Knowledge, and Power: Analyzes the Foucauldian link between knowledge production about the "Orient" and the exercise of colonial power.
4. Colonial Impacts and the Construction of Western Identity: Discusses how travelogues were used to define Western identity through repetition and the representation of "the other."
5. The Traveler and the Concept of Access: Examines the sociopolitical privilege inherent in the figure of the traveler and the exclusion of the marginalized.
6. Non-Western Perspectives and the Margins: Questions the Eurocentric "one-way" view of travel and highlights the exclusion of non-Western knowledge.
7. Subalternity and the Destructive Gaze: Discusses the internalization of inferiority by colonized subjects and the power of the "colonial gaze."
8. Conclusion and Problematization: Summarizes the study's intent to problematize the genre rather than offer simple solutions, emphasizing its role in shaping subalternity.
Keywords
Travel Writing, Postcolonialism, Colonial Discourse, Imperialism, Edward Said, The Orient, Subaltern, Power, Identity, Representation, Hegemony, Frantz Fanon, Westernization, Colonial Institutions, Ideology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper explores the critical view of travel writing as a significant component of colonial discourse, examining how it historically served imperial interests and defined relations between the West and the rest of the world.
What are the central thematic fields?
The central themes include the link between travel narratives and colonial expansion, the construction of Western identity in opposition to "the other," and the sociopolitical concept of the traveler.
What is the primary objective of this study?
The primary goal is to problematize travel writing as a complex genre, analyzing its role in creating systems of power, dominance, and ideological representation.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author employs postcolonial literary analysis, drawing upon critical theories from scholars like Edward Said, Michel Foucault, Ania Loomba, and Frantz Fanon to deconstruct the ideological underpinnings of travel texts.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body examines historical critiques of travel writing, the impact of colonial representations on Western identity, the privilege of the traveler, and the psychological impact of internalizing "subalternity" as seen in the work of Langston Hughes and Frantz Fanon.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Colonial Discourse, Imperialism, Subaltern, Western Identity, Power, Hegemony, and Representation.
How does the paper address the concept of "the other"?
The paper argues that travelogues construct the Western self by defining it against "the other," using stereotypes and binary oppositions to justify colonial control.
What significance is attributed to the "traveler"?
The author highlights that the traveler is a figure of privilege and security, and that this social standing dictates the values and biases embedded within their travel accounts.
How does the author interpret the work of Langston Hughes in this context?
The author uses Hughes’ experience as a metaphor for the subaltern's struggle to find an authentic identity outside of Western narratives and colonial knowledge systems.
- Quote paper
- Student-Researcher Amine Zidouh (Author), 2013, Travel Writing in a Postcolonial World, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/212050
