Aaaaaaaaaggghh - The Scream Thread!, Sign in here if you've had a bad week... Options

[Soph15]

My Dad's Uncle is still poorly in hospital, and he has dementia, so visiting him and he doesn't know who you are isn't the nicest... he remembered my name tonight, but he kept asking who my sister was. Then he wasn't too well while we were there.

My Grandad is really poorly at the moment, and i really wouldn't be surprised if he gets taken to hospital soon too :-(

Sorry to hear this, Soph (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thereThere.gif)

It's not looking good at all for my Dad's Uncle... his family who havent seen him for years were informed today, and we're allowed to visit whenever we like (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

My Grandad was taken in this morning too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

So, so sorry to hear this, Soph (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I'll be thinking of you and praying for your uncle and grandad (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thereThere.gif)

Thanks Fran, been a pants day, and I was working 2-8 so could only be there to pick my Auntie up from the hospital (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Going to visit in the morning, before work as i'm working 2-close (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[Celeste]

Thinking of all who are going through a rough patch at the moment. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thereThere.gif) xx

[katica]

Thinking of all who are going through a rough patch at the moment. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thereThere.gif) xx

A good thought!!!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)

[Blackbird77]

Sorry for the whinge but just need to scream at the Tax Office (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/argh.gif)

[lucky045]

Postcolonial literature... I just don't understand. I love all the books on my reading list for next term - it should be really fun, but I know nothing about colonialism, or the politics of Nigeria, Algeria, Palestine, etc... The criticism keeps saying that I'll never, ever be able to understand the literature, because I'm western, and therefore I am the oppressor and not the oppressed, which I totally get... But it does make me feel like I'm wasting my time a bit, since growing up in a western culture apparently makes me predisposed to completely misunderstand all of these wonderful texts...

All the history/politics books seem to assume there's already a base of knowledge there, but I'm completely blank. I'm obviously one of those AWFUL, obnoxious people who is completely oblivious to the workings of the world outside of my immediate environment...

I hope everyone is as confused as I am, but I somehow doubt it - I can be disturbingly clueless at times. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) I really need next term to go well!


(I'm sorry I'm always in this thread! With such trivial worries! I'm sure when I'm back at uni with less time to dwell on things I'll be much better!)

[Solari]

The criticism keeps saying that I'll never, ever be able to understand the literature, because I'm western, and therefore I am the oppressor and not the oppressed

Was this criticism aimed at previous generations that would have formed the audience when they were published? Does the ability to be objective count for nothing? I'm confused.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

[lucky045]

The criticism keeps saying that I'll never, ever be able to understand the literature, because I'm western, and therefore I am the oppressor and not the oppressed

Was this criticism aimed at previous generations that would have formed the audience when they were published? Does the ability to be objective count for nothing? I'm confused.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

As I understand it, the criticism is aimed at a previous era of theory, which did try to apply solely western theory to postcolonial texts, and thus ignored any cultural context, assuming that the colonial culture was the only culture that applied in colonised countries... The example I saw was one surrounding a picture of a woman in a veil. Western critics saw it and started talking about the virgin Mary, and innocence and the maternal, when really, and logically, the picture didn't have much to do with any Christian imagery. Or at least, in taking Christian imagery as the sum of the picture's meaning, the western critics were denying the importance of the culture within which the picture was taken. So yeah, it's not as bad as I've made it seem. Current postcolonial study (I think... This is all new to me) is more about shedding western preconceptions, and yes, being objective, and trying to take the hybrid culture which emerges from colonialism into account.

In short, yes, I should be able to understand it if I try really, really hard. I'm just being sulky about it, because it seems like it will be really difficult. Plus, I'm apparently, quite far behind in my knowledge of politics/historical events etc which shaped the cultures of the countries in which the texts were written... Which will make it all the more difficult to catch up.

[Roseau]

In short, yes, I should be able to understand it if I try really, really hard. I'm just being sulky about it, because it seems like it will be really difficult. Plus, I'm apparently, quite far behind in my knowledge of politics/historical events etc which shaped the cultures of the countries in which the texts were written... Which will make it all the more difficult to catch up.

My official "speciality" is New Literatures in English, although I feel more comfortable dealing with Settler Literatures (or 2nd World literatures depending on whose terminology you want to use).

When first trying to come to terms with Post-Colonial theory, I think it helps to read the theorists in chronological order (ie read Fanon and Memi before you read Said). I also found the Post Colonial Studies Reader useful as this enables you to "dip" into lots of theorists, pick out those that interest you and read those ones in depth. (Although I was approaching this at PhD level and looking for critical tools and I suspect that at undergraduate level you may well be expected to have an overview of all the major theorists).

As for an understanding of politics and history of the country, I find this part faschinating as you can't just rely on one source.

[Clari-Netty]

not really a scream.....just a note to self;.........."dont look in the teachers subforum" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[lucky045]

Kerioboe, thank you! That's really helpful. The Postcolonial Studies Reader is on my reading list (but since the list is five pages long, I've been dipping in at random - I'll look that one out first now!). I started with Fanon's The Wretched of the Earth, so I'm glad to know I'm not taking things out of order. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'm sure you're right about the politics/history stuff being fascinating - once you get used to it! At the moment, it's taking me twenty minutes to read a sentence, as every sentence I tackle references another three events that I have to look up and familiarise myself with! So that means that even getting right through one source is a bit of a struggle.

I really appreciate your help! This forum is amazing in that you can have a whinge about almost anything, and someone will come along and be able to assist!

(By the way, while you're here, I don't suppose you could tell me the difference between syncretism and hybridity? I looked them up, and I think I get what syncretism is - the sources I looked at just said it was a sort of fusion of cultures which occurs after somewhere has been colonised. I looked up hybridity, though, and got very confused. The only meaning I could get from the definition implied that hybridity is the same as syncretism, which I'm sure isn't right, is it?)

[Roseau]

(By the way, while you're here, I don't suppose you could tell me the difference between syncretism and hybridity? I looked them up, and I think I get what syncretism is - the sources I looked at just said it was a sort of fusion of cultures which occurs after somewhere has been colonised. I looked up hybridity, though, and got very confused. The only meaning I could get from the definition implied that hybridity is the same as syncretism, which I'm sure isn't right, is it?)

I would have to dig out my notes to be of any use on the difference between the two (as this was one of the things I decided I wasn't really interested in pursuing). As you have probably gathered, different theorists define them slightly differently. Bhabha has written quite a lot on hybridity (but he is not the most "readable" of theorists). The other book I quite liked when I first started was "The Empire Writes Back", which I am sure is also on you reading list.

Spare a thought for me tomorrow. Last week was our first week of term. I was supposed to have 5 hours on Monday but arrived to find there were no rooms and so couldn't teach. I went back in for 4 hours on Tuesday but only taught 2 and all classes were cancelled until the end of the week so they could sort rooms out. Tomorrow I am again supposed to have 5 hours but only have a room for one of them... At the end of the month my class that was supposed to be from 2.30 to 4.30 has been moved to 8.30 (because there were no classrooms) which means getting up at 5.00 am and there may well be other changes yet to come (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[Misti]

*sigh*

Really struggling to find motivation for going back to Uni tomorrow. Another year of being messed about by my department, enduring lectures which I could deliver better myself, and having my marks dragged down by fellow team members in group work projects.

Starting to think 5 years is a bit too long to spend doing one degree - you end up very disillused with the whole process. I just want to go out and do my job now.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[BerkshireMum]

*sigh*

Really struggling to find motivation for going back to Uni tomorrow. Another year of being messed about by my department, enduring lectures which I could deliver better myself, and having my marks dragged down by fellow team members in group work projects.

Starting to think 5 years is a bit too long to spend doing one degree - you end up very disillused with the whole process. I just want to go out and do my job now.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

Hope it won't be as bad as you think, tamsin. How many more years until you have your degree?

[lucky045]

(By the way, while you're here, I don't suppose you could tell me the difference between syncretism and hybridity? I looked them up, and I think I get what syncretism is - the sources I looked at just said it was a sort of fusion of cultures which occurs after somewhere has been colonised. I looked up hybridity, though, and got very confused. The only meaning I could get from the definition implied that hybridity is the same as syncretism, which I'm sure isn't right, is it?)

I would have to dig out my notes to be of any use on the difference between the two (as this was one of the things I decided I wasn't really interested in pursuing). As you have probably gathered, different theorists define them slightly differently. Bhabha has written quite a lot on hybridity (but he is not the most "readable" of theorists). The other book I quite liked when I first started was "The Empire Writes Back", which I am sure is also on you reading list.

Spare a thought for me tomorrow. Last week was our first week of term. I was supposed to have 5 hours on Monday but arrived to find there were no rooms and so couldn't teach. I went back in for 4 hours on Tuesday but only taught 2 and all classes were cancelled until the end of the week so they could sort rooms out. Tomorrow I am again supposed to have 5 hours but only have a room for one of them... At the end of the month my class that was supposed to be from 2.30 to 4.30 has been moved to 8.30 (because there were no classrooms) which means getting up at 5.00 am and there may well be other changes yet to come (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Ok, thanks for all your help! I'll get reading your recommendation tomorrow. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I hope everything is less nightmare-ish than you expect tomorrow.

[Flossie]

(By the way, while you're here, I don't suppose you could tell me the difference between syncretism and hybridity? I looked them up, and I think I get what syncretism is - the sources I looked at just said it was a sort of fusion of cultures which occurs after somewhere has been colonised. I looked up hybridity, though, and got very confused. The only meaning I could get from the definition implied that hybridity is the same as syncretism, which I'm sure isn't right, is it?)

I would have to dig out my notes to be of any use on the difference between the two (as this was one of the things I decided I wasn't really interested in pursuing). As you have probably gathered, different theorists define them slightly differently. Bhabha has written quite a lot on hybridity (but he is not the most "readable" of theorists). The other book I quite liked when I first started was "The Empire Writes Back", which I am sure is also on you reading list.

Spare a thought for me tomorrow. Last week was our first week of term. I was supposed to have 5 hours on Monday but arrived to find there were no rooms and so couldn't teach. I went back in for 4 hours on Tuesday but only taught 2 and all classes were cancelled until the end of the week so they could sort rooms out. Tomorrow I am again supposed to have 5 hours but only have a room for one of them... At the end of the month my class that was supposed to be from 2.30 to 4.30 has been moved to 8.30 (because there were no classrooms) which means getting up at 5.00 am and there may well be other changes yet to come (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Ok, thanks for all your help! I'll get reading your recommendation tomorrow. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I hope everything is less nightmare-ish than you expect tomorrow.

Try Homi Bhabha The Location of Culture (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) You probably need to look at hybridity alongside ambivalence and mimicry to get what he's talking about.

*tries to remember where her notes are saved*