Social Representations of Islam in the West: Three British Studies

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Social Representations of Islam in the West: Three British Studies SOCIAL REPRESENTATIONS OF ISLAM IN THE WEST: THREE BRITISH STUDIES Mohammed Mahjoub Haroun Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Social Psychology London School of Economics and Political Science University of London August 1997 1 UMI Number: U615408 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Dissertation Publishing UMI U615408 Published by ProQuest LLC 2014. Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 THESES F 7 3 6 7 snyzy Abstract This study explores social representations of Islam in the West, with the empirical inquiry focused on Britain. Drawing on Said's critique of Orientalism, treated as a Western representation of Islam, the author establishes a clear distinction between Islam and its representations in the West. Said’s analysis of Orientalism is related, by the author, to Moscovici’s theory of social representations. Islam is dealt with in terms of cultural otherness. Culture, both as a dynamic and a heterogeneous social phenomenon, is reinstated, by reference back to Durkheim’s collective representations, as an integral component of Moscovici’s theory. The author investigates social representations of Islam in Britain by means of three empirical studies: (1) a participant observational study of the British security establishment in relation to interrogation by Scotland Yard of a suspect terrorist; (2) a content analysis of nine popular and quality national newspapers for the whole of 1989 in relation to the Rushdie Affair; and (3) group discussions involving members of the community at a University of London college. Representations of Islam are sought in (i) the interrogation; (ii) letters to the editors of various newspapers; and (iii) the discussion of groups considered as thinking societies in miniature. In accordance with the findings of the three empirical studies Islam is, largely, represented as a fundamentalist phenomenon. Aspects of culture such as individualism and secularism are instrumental in shaping Western representations of Islam. Results also indicate that the structure of representations of Islam persist even though the contents of those representations and the thinking societies which produce them keep changing. The media play a powerful role in generating representations of Islam. Power, like culture, also structures the social representations of Islam in the West. Culture requires the adoption of more appropriate methods of investigation, while power needs operationalisation. The study of social representations of cultural otherness remains virtually unexplored terrain. 2 To Hwaida for her unfailing support 3 List of Contents A b stract ................................................................................................ 2 Acknowledgements ..................................................................... Introduction ....................................................................................... ^2 SECTION ONE Chapter One ........................................................................................ 20 Social Representations of the Cultural Other 1.1. Rethinking Social Psychology............................................................ 21 1.2.1. Social Representations: Theory and beyond................................. 24 1.2.2. Social Representations and Culture ............................................ 32 1.2.3. Social Representations: Questions of identity and coherence ............. ^g 1.3. Mapping the Problem: Representations of Islam in Western knowledge 46- Chapter Two ........................................................................................ 51 Social Representations of Islam in the West: A historical perspective 2.1. The West: What and where?............................................................... 53 2.2. Islam: Religion, community and worldview ........................................ 55 2.2.1. Basics of a Religion .................................................................. 56 2.3. The Encounter between Islam and the Other ....................................... 58 2.4. Early Encounters between the West and Islam .................................... 59 2.4.1. Andalusia .................................................................................... 60 2.4.2. The Crusades ............................................................................. 62 2.4.3. Travellers ................................................................... 67 2.4.4. Orientalism .................................................................................. 69 2.5. Conclusion .......................................................................................... 74 4 Chapter Three ........................................................................... 75 Islamic Revivalism as Islamic Fundamentalism: Contemporary representations of Islam in the West 3.1. Western Representations of Islam from Past to Present ................... 76 3.1.1. Israel, the West, and the Muslim World ............................... 78 3.1.2. The Iranian Revolution, the Western Hostages and Western Representations of Islam .................................................... 79 3.1.3. The Salman Rushdie Affair ................................................ 81 3.2. Fundamentalism as a New Representational Pattern ....................... 84 3.3. Roots of Islamic Fundamentalism as a Representation .................... 86 3.4. Islamic Fundamentalism: Myth or reality? ................................... 89 3.5. Conclusion ................................................................................... 96 Chapter Four ............................................................................. 98 The Cultural Other: E. Said's Orientalism in the light of MoscovicVs theory of social representations 4.1. An Account of Said's Orientalism (1978) .................................... 100 4.2. In the Wake of Orientalism .................................................................. 104 4.3. Representing Orientalism ........................................................... 107 4.4. Questioning Objective Scholarship ............................................ 115 4.5. Representation, Knowledge and Power ....................................... 120 4.6. Conclusion ................................................................................... 123 SECTION TWO Chapter Five ............................................................................. 125 Shifting Paradigms: Methods of research in social psychology 5.1. From Descartes to Hegel ............................................................ 126 5.2. Social Representations and Social Psychological Research Methods ... 128 5.2.1. Experimental Method .......................................................... 131 5.2.2. Content Analysis of the Media ............................................ 132 5.2.3. Questionnaires ...................................................................... 134 5.2.4. Interviewing ......................................................................... 135 5.2.5. Participant Observation ........................................................ 136 5.2.6. Group Discussion 138 5.2.7. The Multi-Methods Approach .............................................. 139 5 5.3. Methodological Design: Theory and application.......................... 141 5.3.1. Methods and Procedure: Application .................................... 144 SECTION THREE Chapter Six ..................................................................................... 148 The Social Construction of a Terrorist: How Islam is represented by some members of the security forces in Britain 6.1. Some Methodological Issues ...................................................... 149 6.2. A Suspect Terrorist's Criminal Record ........................................ 153 6.3. A Historical Background: The wider frame of an Islamic Sudan ....... 157 6.4. ThsSiEpal, fePdteand tfeRq^Kxrtthn.................... 160 6.4.1. The Interrogation: Reading the text ...................................... 162 6.4.2. Beyond the Text: A representation's resistance to change......... 169 6.5. Conclusion ................................................................................... 173 Chapter Seven .......................................................................... 176 The Rushdie Affair: Overlapping representations of Islam in letters to editors of national newspapers 7.1. The Media and Social Representations ........................................ 177 7.2.The Western Press and Representations of Islam ............................ 179 7.3. The Rushdie Affair in the Press: Scope and sample ....................... 182 7.4. The Rushdie Affair in the Press: Procedures ................................. 184 7.5. The Rushdie Affair in the Press: Issues and salient arguments 189 7.6. The Rushdie Affair in the Press: Results and discussion .................. 198 7.6.1. Freedom of Expression in the Context of the Blasphemy Law 201 7.6.2. Freedom of Expression and Freedom
Recommended publications
  • Writers Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Monica Ali Isabel Allende Martin Amis Kurt Andersen K
    Writers Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Monica Ali Isabel Allende Martin Amis Kurt Andersen K. A. Applegate Jeffrey Archer Diana Athill Paul Auster Wasi Ahmed Victoria Aveyard Kevin Baker Mark Allen Baker Nicholson Baker Iain Banks Russell Banks Julian Barnes Andrea Barrett Max Barry Sebastian Barry Louis Bayard Peter Behrens Elizabeth Berg Wendell Berry Maeve Binchy Dustin Lance Black Holly Black Amy Bloom Chris Bohjalian Roberto Bolano S. J. Bolton William Boyd T. C. Boyle John Boyne Paula Brackston Adam Braver Libba Bray Alan Brennert Andre Brink Max Brooks Dan Brown Don Brown www.downloadexcelfiles.com Christopher Buckley John Burdett James Lee Burke Augusten Burroughs A. S. Byatt Bhalchandra Nemade Peter Cameron W. Bruce Cameron Jacqueline Carey Peter Carey Ron Carlson Stephen L. Carter Eleanor Catton Michael Chabon Diane Chamberlain Jung Chang Kate Christensen Dan Chaon Kelly Cherry Tracy Chevalier Noam Chomsky Tom Clancy Cassandra Clare Susanna Clarke Chris Cleave Ernest Cline Harlan Coben Paulo Coelho J. M. Coetzee Eoin Colfer Suzanne Collins Michael Connelly Pat Conroy Claire Cook Bernard Cornwell Douglas Coupland Michael Cox Jim Crace Michael Crichton Justin Cronin John Crowley Clive Cussler Fred D'Aguiar www.downloadexcelfiles.com Sandra Dallas Edwidge Danticat Kathryn Davis Richard Dawkins Jonathan Dee Frank Delaney Charles de Lint Tatiana de Rosnay Kiran Desai Pete Dexter Anita Diamant Junot Diaz Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni E. L. Doctorow Ivan Doig Stephen R. Donaldson Sara Donati Jennifer Donnelly Emma Donoghue Keith Donohue Roddy Doyle Margaret Drabble Dinesh D'Souza John Dufresne Sarah Dunant Helen Dunmore Mark Dunn James Dashner Elisabetta Dami Jennifer Egan Dave Eggers Tan Twan Eng Louise Erdrich Eugene Dubois Diana Evans Percival Everett J.
    [Show full text]
  • Transculturation in Pauline Melville's the Ventriloquist's Tale
    Transculturation in Pauline Melville’s The Ventriloquist’s Tale Transculturação no romance A História do Ventríloquo, de Pauline Melville Thomas Bonnici1 BONNICI, Thomas. Transculturation in Pauline Melville’s The Ventriloquist’s Tale. Mimesis, Bauru, v. 22, n. 3, p. 07-21, 2001. ABSTRACT Hierarchization in metropolis-colony relationships provokes the trans- culturation phenomenon. The native is othered with loss of autonomy and identity. In The Vestriloquist’s Tale the Guyanese author Pauline Melville makes the narrator Macunaima tell the recent story of an Ame- rindian family living in the Guyana savannahs. Colonial encounters bet- ween representatives of Western culture and Wapisiana Indians reveal constant encroachments against native culture. The texualized autoeth- nografic narrative shows that societal organization and mythology fore- ground the identity and the subjectification of the native. Key Words: transculturation, Amerindians, post-colonial literature, identity, Pauline Melville. INTRODUÇÃO 1. Doutor em Letras When Amos Tutuola and Chinua Achebe published two highly prized pela UNESP (São novels in the 1950s, the British reading public was astonished with the José do Rio Preto) – Professor titular de different sounds that were coming from Africa. It was a different litera- Literatura Britânica ture in style and in contents. It was an answer back to the imperial me- na Universidade Es- tropolis, not exclusively England, of the hundreds of years of denigration tadual de Maringá – and othering that Africa suffered during the colonial period. The theme Rua Manoel Ban- deira, 140 – Vila of the two novels was that, contrary to European opinion, there were in Esperança – 87020- Africa cultural activities and societal organization that the colonizers en- 580 – Maringá – deavored to suppress so that Western modes and costumes would repla- PR.
    [Show full text]
  • The Edgar Mittelholzer Memorial Lectures
    BEACONS OF EXCELLENCE: THE EDGAR MITTELHOLZER MEMORIAL LECTURES VOLUME 3: 1986-2013 Edited and with an Introduction by Andrew O. Lindsay 1 Edited by Andrew O. Lindsay BEACONS OF EXCELLENCE: THE EDGAR MITTELHOLZER MEMORIAL LECTURES - VOLUME 3: 1986-2013 Preface © Andrew Jefferson-Miles, 2014 Introduction © Andrew O. Lindsay, 2014 Cover design by Peepal Tree Press Cover photograph: Courtesy of Jacqueline Ward All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission. Published by the Caribbean Press. ISBN 978-1-907493-67-6 2 Contents: Tenth Series, 1986: The Arawak Language in Guyanese Culture by John Peter Bennett FOREWORD by Denis Williams .......................................... 3 PREFACE ................................................................................. 5 THE NAMING OF COASTAL GUYANA .......................... 7 ARAWAK SUBSISTENCE AND GUYANESE CULTURE ........................................................................ 14 Eleventh Series, 1987. The Relevance of Myth by George P. Mentore PREFACE ............................................................................... 27 MYTHIC DISCOURSE......................................................... 29 SOCIETY IN SHODEWIKE ................................................ 35 THE SELF CONSTRUCTED ............................................... 43 REFERENCES ....................................................................... 51 Twelfth Series, 1997: Language and National Unity by Richard Allsopp CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD
    [Show full text]
  • Feminist Presses and Publishing Politics in Twentieth-Century Britain
    MIXED MEDIA: FEMINIST PRESSES AND PUBLISHING POLITICS IN TWENTIETH-CENTURY BRITAIN SIMONE ELIZABETH MURRAY DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON 1999 The copyright of this thesis rests with the author and no quotation from it or information derived from it may be published without the prior written consent of the author U,Ip 1 Still, Madam, the private printing press is an actual fact, and not beyond the reach of a moderate income. Typewriters and duplicators are actual facts and even cheaper. By using these cheap and so far unforbidden instruments you can at once rid yourself of the pressure of boards, policies and editors. They will speak your own mind, in your own words, at your own time, at your own length, at your own bidding. And that, we are agreed, is our definition of 'intellectual liberty'. - Virginia Woolf, Three Guineas (1938) 2 Image removed due to third party copyright ABSTRACT The high cultural profile of contemporary feminist publishing in Britain has previously met with a curiously evasive response from those spheres of academic discourse in which it might be expected to figure: women's studies, while asserting the innate politicality of all communication, has tended to overlook the subject of publishing in favour of less materialist cultural modes; while publishing studies has conventionally overlooked the significance of gender as a differential in analysing print media. Siting itself at this largely unexplored academic juncture, the thesis analyses the complex interaction of feminist politics and fiction publishing in twentieth-century Britain. Chapter 1 -" 'Books With Bite': Virago Press and the Politics of Feminist Conversion" - focuses on Britain's oldest extant women's publishing venture, Virago Press, and analyses the organisational structures and innovative marketing strategies which engineered the success of its reprint and original fiction lists.
    [Show full text]
  • Fall 2019 Coursebook
    SCHOOL COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS Fall 2 019 Coursebook Workshops Seminars Lectures Master Classes Updated: August 27, 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF COURSES BY DAY AND TIME WORKSHOPS 1 SEMINARS 2 LECTURES 5 MASTER CLASSES 6 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS SEMINARS 7 LITERARY TRANSLATION WORKSHOP 26 LECTURES 27 MASTER CLASSES 29 SPECIAL PROJECTS WORKSHOP 39 WORKSHOPS FICTION – OPEN (6 points) NONFICTION – OPEN (6 points) Sam Lipsyte Michelle Orange Mon., 10am-1pm Mon., 2pm-5pm Rivka Galchen Brenda Wineapple Mon., 2pm-5pm Tue., 2pm-5pm Brit Bennett Maria Venegas Tue., 10am-1pm Wed., 9:30am-12:30pm Lynn Steger Strong Sarah Perry Tue., 10am-1pm Fri., 2pm-5pm Binnie Kirshenbaum Tue., 2pm-5pm NONFICTION – THESIS (9 points) Joshua Furst Second-Years only Wed., 2pm-5pm Joanna Hershon Leslie Jamison Thu., 10am-1pm Mon., 10am-1pm Paul Beatty Phillip Lopate Thu., 2pm-5pm Mon., 2pm-5pm Nicholas Christopher Wendy S. Walters Thu., 2pm-5pm Tue., 10am-1pm Ben Metcalf Richard Locke Thu., 2pm-5pm Tue., 2pm-5pm Anelise Chen Michael Greenberg Fri., 10am-1pm Wed., 2pm-5pm James Cañón Fri., 2pm-5pm POETRY – OPEN (6 points) Phillip B. Williams Mon., 10am-1pm Timothy Donnelly Wed., 2pm-5pm Shane McCrae Thu., 10am-1pm Lynn Xu Thu., 10am-1pm Emily Skillings Fri., 2pm-5pm 1 SEMINARS ——MONDAY—— ——TUESDAY—— Rivka Galchen (FI) Monica Ferrell (CG) Not Exactly Historical Fiction Word and Image: Reading and Writing Mon., 10am-12pm Contemporary Poetry for Prose Writers Tue., 10am-12pm Lincoln Michel (FI) Structure and Its Discontents Leslie Jamison (NF) Mon., 10am-12pm Archive
    [Show full text]
  • The Great Book of World Facts, Lists and Quizzes
    Put your general knowledge to the test with The Great Book of World Facts, Lists & Quizzes! With over 650 pages of facts and questions on everything under the sun, from History, Geography, Science & Technology to TV, Cinema and Sport, there is plenty to entertain general knowledge fans of all ages. Packed with testing questions, original facts and comprehensive lists, this is the ultimate general knowledge compendium.The Great Book of World Facts, Lists & Quizzes ISBN 1-84193-120-9 £11.99 9 781841 931203 Capella Width: 1.00 H This ebook licensed to Gigapedia.org . Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this ebook is illegal. by David Carson Capella Published by Capella, an imprint of Arcturus Publishing Limited For Bookmart Limited Registered Number 2372865 Desford Road, Enderby, Leicester LE9 5AD ISBN 1-84193-120-9 This edition published 2002 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission or in accordance with the Copyright Act 1956 (as amended). Any person or persons who do any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. Edited by Paul Whittle Cover design by Alex Ingr Book design by Kevin Ancient Printed in Italy ©Arcturus Publishing Limited 1–7 Shand Street, London SE1 2ES CONTENTS 1. GEOGRAPHY & TRAVEL 7 2. HISTORY 143 3. LITERATURE 261 4. MYTHOLOGY 297 5. MUSIC 319 6. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 365 7. ENTERTAINMENT 431 8. FAMOUS PERSONALITIES 499 9.
    [Show full text]
  • Eyes Deep with Unfathomable Histories. the Poetics and Politics of Magic Realism Today and in the Past
    Pauline Melville’s marvels of reality Liliana Sikorska, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań / University of Social Sciences, Warsaw Born in Guyana of an English mother and Guyanese (part South American Indian, African and Scottish) father, Pauline Melville now lives in London but travels all over the world, and frequently to faraway parts with no Internet connection. Writing, as she herself says, gives her an opportunity to understand her mixed parentage, especially her father’s side. In her fiction, her English as well as her Guyanese heritage is of paramount importance. In “Mixed” she wrote: “Some- times, I think/My mother with her blue eyes/And flowered apron/Was exasperated/At having such a sallow child/And my mulatto dadee/Silenced/By having such an English-looking one” (2001: 45).1 Her Guyanese Indian legacy proved to be the most ample resource of stories, in which the magical and the real come into contact. In contemporary critical works, she is most frequently praised for her innovative use of “lo realismo maravilloso”. No wonder her texts are often evoked in connection with magic realism theory. In a recent work on magic(al) realism, Mary Ann Bower notes that “…Pauline Melville, has written three very different fictional works using the same [as Wilson Harris] magical realist techniques. Her first novel The ventriloquist’s tale (1997 [1998]) is based in the same geographical terrain of the Caribbean coast as Garcia Marquez, this time in Guyana, where she was born, rather than Colombia, and has the same exuberant narrative and richness of detail” (Bowers 2005: 60).
    [Show full text]
  • COSTA (FORMERLY WHITBREAD) BOOK AWARDS Shortlists 1995
    COSTA (FORMERLY WHITBREAD) BOOK AWARDS Shortlists 1995 - present 2019 Costa First Novel Award Diary of a Somebody by Brian Bilston Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins The Other Half of Augusta Hope by Joanna Glen Costa Novel Award Middle England by Jonathan Coe Confession with Blue Horses by Sophie Hardach Starling Days by Rowan Hisayo Buchanan Shadowplay by Joseph O’Connor Costa Biography Award On Chapel Sands: My mother and other missing persons by Laura Cumming The Volunteer: The True Story of the Resistance Hero who Infiltrated Auschwitz by Jack Fairweather In Extremis: The Life of War Correspondent Marie Colvin by Lindsey Hilsum The Making of Poetry: Coleridge, the Wordsworths and Their Year of Marvels by Adam Nicolson Costa Poetry Award Surge by Jay Bernard Flèche by Mary Jean Chan The Mizzy by Paul Farley Reckless Paper Birds by John McCullough Costa Children’s Award Asha & the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan Crossfire by Malorie Blackman In the Shadow of Heroes by Nicholas Bowling Furious Thing by Jenny Downham 2018 Costa First Novel Award Pieces of Me by Natalie Hart An Unremarkable Body by Elisa Lodato The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton (winner) Meet Me At The Museum by Anne Youngson Costa Novel Award The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker The Italian Teacher by Tom Rachman Normal People by Sally Rooney (winner) From a Low and Quiet Sea by Donal Ryan Costa Biography Award To Throw Away Unopened by Viv Albertine The Cut Out Girl by Bart van Es (winner) The Salt
    [Show full text]
  • Postcolonial Literatures in English
    The Cambridge Introduction to Postcolonial Literatures in English The past century has witnessed an extraordinary flowering of fiction, poetry and drama from countries previously colonised by Britain, an output which has changed the map of English literature. This introduction, from a leading figure in the field, explores a wide range of Anglophone postcolonial writing from Africa, Australia, the Caribbean, India, Ireland and Britain. Lyn Innes compares the ways in which authors shape communal identities and interrogate the values and representations of peoples in newly independent nations. Placing its emphasis on literary rather than theoretical texts, this book offers detailed discussion of many internationally renowned authors, including Chinua Achebe, James Joyce, Les Murray, Salman Rushdie and Derek Walcott. It also includes historical surveys of the main countries discussed, a glossary, and biographical notes on major authors. Lyn Innes provides a rich and subtle guide to an array of authors and texts from a wide range of sites. C. L. Innes is Emeritus Professor of Postcolonial Literatures at the University of Kent. She is the author of, among other books, AHistory of Black and Asian Writing in Britain (Cambridge, 2002). Cambridge Introductions to Literature This series is designed to introduce students to key topics and authors. Accessible and lively, these introductions will also appeal to readers who want to broaden their understanding of the books and authors they enjoy. r Ideal for students, teachers, and lecturers r Concise, yet packed with essential information r Keysuggestions for further reading Titles in this series: Christopher Balme The Cambridge Introduction to Theatre Studies Eric Bulson The Cambridge Introduction to James Joyce Warren Chernaik The Cambridge Introduction to Shakespeare’s History Plays John Xiros Cooper The Cambridge Introduction to T.
    [Show full text]
  • Literary Studies
    INCORPORATING LITERARY STUDIES 2013 CONTINUUM BOOKS ARE NOW PUBLISHED UNDER BLOOMSBURY VISIT THE NEW BLOOMSBURY WEBSITE www.bloomsbury.com/academic KEY FEATURES Bloomsbury’s complete range of academic titles, all in one place, by discipline Online previews of many titles Join in our online communities via blogs, twitter and facebook Sign up for our subject-specifi c newsletters FOR ACADEMICS FOR LIBRARIANS • Full inspection copy ordering service, including • Bloomsbury Academic Collections and Major NEW e-inspection copies Reference Work areas • Links to online resources and companion websites • Links to our Online Libraries, including Berg Fashion Library, The Churchill Archive and Drama Online • Discuss books, new research and current affairs on our subject-specifi c academic online communities • Information and subscription details for Bloomsbury Journals, including Fashion Theory, Food, Culture • Dedicated textbook and eBook areas and Society, The Design Journal and Anthrozoos FOR STUDENTS FOR AUTHORS • Links to online resources, such as bibliographies, • Information about publishing with Bloomsbury and author interviews, case studies and audio/video the publishing process materials • Style guidelines • Share ideas and learn about research and • Book and journal submissions information and key topics in your subject areas via our online proposals form communities • Recommended reading lists suggest key titles for student use Sign up for newsletters and to join our communities at: www.bloomsbury.com Contents Bloomsbury Head Offices
    [Show full text]
  • William Herbert New Fonds
    William Herbert New fonds Compiled by Tahra Fung (1999) Revised by Alex Richmond (2001), Christopher Hives (2002), Alan Doyle (2002), Melanie Hardbattle et al. (2003), Cobi Falconer & Tracey Krause (2005), Michelle Curran (2008), Emma Wendel (2009), Meribeth Plenert (2012), Elissa How (2013-2014), Christie Waltham (2015), Jennifer Vanderfluit (2016), Syr Reifsteck (2017), Manfred Nissley (2018) and John Moran (2019) Last revised May 2019 University of British Columbia Archives Table of Contents Fonds Description o Title / Dates of Creation / Physical Description o Biographical Sketch o Scope and Content o Note Series Descriptions o Criticism and History o Children’s Books o Essays and Articles o Reference Books o Editions and Anthologies o Auto/biographical Writing o Poetry o Unpublished Works o Scholarships, Prizes, and Awards o Conferences, Projects, and Papers o Miscellaneous o Commonwealth Literature o Teaching Materials o Correspondence o Student Course Notes and Essays Series o University Committee Work o Academic Associations/Publishers o Assorted Authors o New Canadian Library o General Publications o Editing and Advising o Office Files o Photographs File List Catalogue entry (UBC Library) Fonds Description William Herbert New fonds. – 1904-2018. 34.72 m of textual records and other materials. Biographical Sketch William Herbert (Bill) New was born in Vancouver, 28 March 1938. He enrolled at the University of British Columbia in 1956. Over the next five years, he completed the Secondary Teacher Training program, earning his teaching certificate and specializing in Geography and English. After graduating with his B.Ed. degree (with the Maxwell Cameron Medal) in 1961, he won a scholarship to enter the M.A.
    [Show full text]
  • Representations of Indentureship in Indo-Caribbean Literature from 1960 to the Present
    ABSTRACT Title of Document: UNHOMELY STIRRINGS: REPRESENTATIONS OF INDENTURESHIP IN INDO-CARIBBEAN LITERATURE FROM 1960 TO THE PRESENT Anita Baksh, Doctor of Philosophy, 2014 Directed By: Professor Merle Collins, Department of English This dissertation investigates the ways in which East Indian Caribbean (Indo- Caribbean) writers negotiate history, identity, and belonging. Nineteenth-century government officials and plantation owners described Indian indentureship (1838- 1917) in the British West Indies as a contractual system of employment implemented after abolition and as a civilizing mechanism aimed at reforming heathen laborers. Challenging these accounts, historians have shown that the system was a new mode of exploitation. Colonial administrators used coercive tactics to control workers and implemented strategic laws to confine Indians to the plantation. These policies constructed Indians as foreigners and interlopers in colonial society, perceptions that have significantly impacted the formation of Indo-Caribbean subjectivities and Indo- Caribbean claims to postcolonial citizenship in the region. Reading both canonical and lesser known texts, my project argues that Indo-Caribbean writers frequently engage with indentureship as a means to come to terms with this history of oppression and as a way to contest their elision in Anglophone Caribbean culture more widely. Drawing on postcolonial theory, I examine works published from 1960 to the present by authors from Guyana and Trinidad, countries where Indians constitute a significant portion of the population. My analysis begins in the 1960s because it was at this time that literary and political debates began to focus on decolonization and on defining a culture distinct from Britain. Given that Indian indentures were unable to record their own experiences, their perspectives are largely omitted from the Caribbean historiography.
    [Show full text]