Towards a Transcultural Future: Literature and Human Rights in a 'Post'-Colonial World

Peter H. Marsden (Volume Editor); Geoffrey V. Davis (Volume Editor)

ISBN 10: 9042017635 / ISBN 13: 9789042017634

Published by Rodopi B.V. Editions, 2004

About this Item

Studying postcolonial literatures in English can (and indeed should) make a human rights activist of the reader - there is, after all, any amount of evidence to show the injustices and inhumanity thrown up by processes of decolonization and the struggle with past legacies and present corruptions. Yet the human-rights aspect of postcolonial literary studies has been somewhat marginalized by scholars preoccupied with more fashionable questions of theory. The present collection seeks to redress this neglect, whereby the definition of human rights adopted is intentionally broad. The volume reflects the human rights situation in many countries from Mauritius to New Zealand, from the Cameroon to Canada. It includes a focus on the Malawian writer Jack Mapanje.ASNEL Papers 8. Cross/Cultures 76.

Seller Inventory # 16718686

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Towards a Transcultural Future: Literature and Human Rights in a 'Post'-Colonial World
• Publisher: Rodopi B.V. Editions
• Publication Date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9042017635
• ISBN 13: 9789042017634
• Binding: Hardback
• Condition: Very good condition.

About this title

Synopsis

Studying postcolonial literatures in English can (and indeed should) make a human rights activist of the reader – there is, after all, any amount of evidence to show the injustices and inhumanity thrown up by processes of decolonization and the struggle with past legacies and present corruptions. Yet the human-rights aspect of postcolonial literary studies has been somewhat marginalized by scholars preoccupied with more fashionable questions of theory.
The present collection seeks to redress this neglect, whereby the definition of human rights adopted is intentionally broad. The volume reflects the human rights situation in many countries from Mauritius to New Zealand, from the Cameroon to Canada. It includes a focus on the Malawian writer Jack Mapanje.
The contributors’ concerns embrace topics as varied as denotified tribes in India, female genital mutilation in Africa, native residential schools in Canada, political violence in Northern Ireland, the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the discourse of the Treaty of Waitangi. The editors hope that the very variety of responses to the invitation to reflect on questions of “Literature and Human Rights” will both stimulate further discussion and prompt action.
Contributors are: Edward O. Ako, Hilarious N. Ambe, Ken Arvidson, Jogamaya Bayer, Maggie Ann Bowers, Chandra Chatterjee, Lindsey Collen, G.N. Devy, James Gibbs, J.U. Jacobs, Karen King–Aribisala, Sindiwe Magona, Lee Maracle, Stuart Marlow, Don Mattera, Wumi Raji. Lesego Rampolokeng, Dieter Riemenschneider, Ahmed Saleh, Jamie S. Scott, Mark Shackleton, Johannes A. Smit, Peter O. Stummer, Robert Sullivan, Rajiva Wijesinha, Chantal Zabus

About the Author

GEOFFREY V. DAVIS and PETER H. MARSDEN teach in the Department of English at the University of Aachen (Germany).