Subjectivity and Decolonisation in the Post-Independence Novel and Film

The post-independence novel and film explored the subjectivity and decolonisation of people living through national circumstances diverging from the promises of decolonisation, drawing on the psycho-political thought of Frantz Fanon. Eight works from the 1950s-1980s were examined to understand how the transformation of subjectivities is a materially consequential process within the broader project of decolonisation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2024
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

The decades following the independences from colonialism witnessed the emergence of a pioneering generation of realist novels and films across Africa and South Asia, which depicted the stories of individuals navigating national circumstances that diverged significantly from the promises of decolonization. Subjectivity and Decolonisation in the Post-Independence Novel and Film delves into how post-independence texts engage in self-critique by addressing a distinct yet interconnected issue, as articulated by Ngugi wa Thiongo, namely the process of "decolonizing the mind." Drawing inspiration from the psycho-political insights of Frantz Fanon, who establishes a dialectical relationship between decolonization and the self, this book examines the transformation of subjectivities as a materially consequential aspect of the broader and ongoing project of decolonization. Through a close analysis of eight notable and lesser-known works from the 1950s to the 1980s, the book sheds light on how the transformation of subjectivities is intricately intertwined with the broader decolonization endeavor.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399507288