Writing Disaster in South Asian Literature and Culture explores how disaster events are perceived and represented, examining the affective mechanisms of empathy and imaginary identification conditioned by biopolitical statist regimes of power. It also examines South Asian disasters in relation to ecological crises, migration events, civil and liberation wars, and pandemics to understand how they are used as tropes to peddle certain structures of interpellation in the collective consciousness.

Format: Hardback
Length: 202 pages
Publication date: 15 May 2024
Publisher: Lexington Books

Writing Disaster in South Asian Literature and Culture: The Limits of Empathy and Cosmopolitan Imagination delves into the diverse portrayals and perceptions of disaster events in South Asian literature and culture. It explores the impact of empathy and imaginary identification conditioned by biopolitical statist regimes of power, aiming to preempt and coopt radical agential or cognitive interventions. The book examines South Asian disasters in the context of ecological crises, migration events, civil and liberation wars, and pandemics, highlighting their multifaceted use as tropes to reinforce certain structures of interpellation in the collective consciousness.

Writing Disaster in South Asian Literature and Culture: The Limits of Empathy and Cosmopolitan Imagination

This book explores the myriad ways in which disaster events (both man-made and natural) are perceived and represented in South Asian literature and culture. It examines the affective mechanisms of empathy and imaginary identification which are conditioned and reiterated by biopolitical statist regimes of power to preempt and coopt any radical agential or cognitive intervention which might be evinced by the event of the disaster. The contributors also examine South Asian disasters vis-a-vis the registers of ecological crises, migration events, civil and liberation wars, and pandemics to understand the multifarious ways in which such ‘disasters are used as tropes to peddle certain structures of interpellation in the collective consciousness.

The Impact of Empathy and Imaginary Identification

The book argues that empathy and imaginary identification are conditioned and reiterated by biopolitical statist regimes of power to preempt and coopt any radical agential or cognitive intervention which might be evinced by the event of the disaster. It suggests that these mechanisms are used to create a sense of urgency and panic, which can be exploited by political and economic elites to justify their actions and policies. The contributors also argue that these mechanisms can be used to create a sense of community and solidarity, which can be used to mobilize support for social and political change.

South Asian Disasters in Context

The book examines South Asian disasters in the context of ecological crises, migration events, civil and liberation wars, and pandemics. It highlights the multifaceted use of such disasters as tropes to peddle certain structures of interpellation in the collective consciousness. For example, the book discusses the impact of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami on the Indian Ocean region, which led to the displacement of millions of people and the destruction of coastal communities. It also discusses the impact of the 2015 Nepal Earthquake on the Himalayan region, which led to the loss of thousands of lives and the displacement of millions of people.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Writing Disaster in South Asian Literature and Culture: The Limits of Empathy and Cosmopolitan Imagination provides a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the ways in which disaster events are perceived and represented in South Asian literature and culture. It argues that empathy and imaginary identification are conditioned and reiterated by biopolitical statist regimes of power to preempt and coopt any radical agential or cognitive intervention which might be evinced by the event of the disaster. It also highlights the multifaceted use of such disasters as tropes to peddle certain structures of interpellation in the collective consciousness. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of disaster, literature, and culture.

Weight: 513g
Dimension: 236 x 158 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781666951479