homi bhabha Essay

Introduction

      Homi K. Bhabha is one of the leading voices in the contemporary postcolonial studies. His work has helped develop and redefine the theory in a new, widening way, and also, to create new forms and perspectives. He introduced new terms and conceptions into the theory, that have helped activate the theory . Among these conceptions: " colonial mimicry" and "hybridity" , that try to describe the relationships between the colonizer and the colonized, and also to analyze the new ways of the neo-colonialism.
      In this paper, I will firstly present an introduction to postcolonial theory and its definitions and the problems with the term. Then I will deal with Homi Bhabha, his importance and his two conceptions of mimicry and hybridity.
      I hope that I mange to present this great theorist in a good way .












Postcolonialism, Colonialism, and Imperialism: Definitions and Differences  

The last half of the 20th century witnessed the end of the colonial domination of large parts of the world by European countries like France and England. Most previously colonized countries achieved independence. These changes affected the literary field , and thus it was come into being the term " postcolonial literature". Before dealing with the term in literary terms, we should differentiate between three terms: Colonialism, Imperialism, and post- colonialism.
      Both of Colonialism and Imperialism are often used interchangeably. Oxford   English Dictionary defines colonialism as " a body of people who settle in a new locality, forming a community subject to or connected with their parent state; the community so formed   consisting of the original settlers and their descendant and successors…."   This definition refers only to people who lived in places where colonies were established. So, this definition avoids any difference between people of conquest and domination. But Ania Loomba suggests in his book Colonialism / Postcolonialism...