World Literature, Non-Synchronism, and the Politics of Time

This book explores the manipulations of time in contemporary anglophone fiction from Africa and South Asia, drawing on a Marxist concept of world literature. It examines nostalgic feelings about bygone ideals of identity and community, appeals to Golden Ages, returns of the repressed, and anticipations of global extinction and catastrophe. Non-synchronism, a dialectical paradigm, captures these dislocations of the present and offers a critical lens to grasp the politics of time in an era of capitalist modernity. The literary analysis connects the manipulation of time to discourses on extinction, accumulation, nostalgia, modernity, and survival in global politics and literature.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 213 pages
Publication date: 08 June 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Drawing on a Marxist concept of world literature, this book is a comprehensive study of the manipulations of time in contemporary anglophone fiction from Africa and South Asia. Through rigorous critical analysis and literary reading, this research delves into the temporal dimensions that haunt an era of capitalist globalization, encompassing nostalgic reflections on bygone ideals of identity and community, appeals to Golden Ages, resurrections of repressed desires, and anxious anticipations of global extinction and catastrophe. The term "non-synchronism" explored in this book captures these dislocations of the present, while providing a critical framework to understand the politics of time in a period characterized by the ongoing expansion of capitalist modernity.

Most importantly, non-synchronism operates as a dialectical paradigm, imbued with antagonistic political valences. The literary analysis presented in this volume thus establishes a profound connection between the manipulation of time in literature and discourses on extinction, accumulation, nostalgia, modernity, and survival in global politics and literature.

The study unfolds in three interconnected chapters, each exploring a distinct aspect of the temporal dynamics in contemporary fiction. In the first chapter, "Nostalgia and the Politics of Time," the author examines how nostalgia functions as a tool to reinscribe dominant narratives and reproduce power structures in the context of global capitalism. Through a close reading of selected texts, the author demonstrates how nostalgia is employed to evoke a sense of belonging, stability, and order, thereby obscuring the contradictions and exploitative practices that underpin the capitalist system.

In the second chapter, "Golden Ages and the Politics of Time," the author explores the allure of the Golden Age as a temporal concept that offers a vision of a better past and a potential future. The author analyzes how Golden Ages are constructed in fiction, highlighting the ways in which they are used to justify present-day inequalities, perpetuate colonial legacies, and reinforce the power of elites. The chapter also examines the ways in which Golden Ages are resisted and subverted by characters and communities, highlighting the potential for transformative change.

In the third chapter, "Survival and the Politics of Time," the author examines how fiction negotiates the challenges posed by the imminent threat of global extinction and catastrophe. The author analyzes how characters and communities respond to these existential threats, exploring the strategies they employ to survive and thrive in a world that is increasingly unstable and uncertain. The chapter also explores the ethical and political dimensions of survival, examining how characters and communities navigate the moral dilemmas that arise in the face of imminent danger.

Throughout the book, the author employs a rich and interdisciplinary approach, drawing on insights from literary theory, cultural studies, and political science to analyze the complex interplay between time, power, and identity in contemporary fiction. The author's critical analysis is complemented by a wealth of literary examples, which provide a vivid and engaging account of the temporal dynamics in contemporary anglophone fiction from Africa and South Asia.

In conclusion, this book offers a groundbreaking exploration of the manipulations of time in contemporary anglophone fiction from Africa and South Asia. Through a rigorous and interdisciplinary approach, the author provides a critical lens to understand the politics of time in a period characterized by the ongoing expansion of capitalist modernity. The book's findings have significant implications for our understanding of global politics, literature, and identity, and will be of interest to scholars, researchers, and students across a wide range of disciplines.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030417000
Edition number: 1st ed. 2020