Abby Estillore

Research Proposal Plan

            I opt to compile a research journal for the research project.  In attempting to define an autonomous self or identity within the context of a diverse (yet, patriarchal) society, I want to explore some of the binary oppositions in relation to signifying the subject “I”:  subject/object, self/other, master/slave, modernity/traditional, human/animal, civilized/uncivilized, Christian/savage, white/dark, etc.  The question, “Who am I?,” prevails throughout my study of literature and making sense of my personal life.  Therefore, what would be left if one were able to state what his or her identity?  Is the search of one’s identity the ultimate goal in itself?  If so, how come we find ourselves inured to a seemingly continual and contradictory process of (re)discovering parts of our selves that comprise our identity?  Otherwise, once we are able to define what IS, does it signal an end to identity formation?

To accomplish my goal of defining what constitutes a self-governing being, I want to explore Spivak’s “subaltern,” Said’s “Orientalism,” and terms such as relexification and hybridity.  Possible major postcolonial authors who I would like to do a biographical report vary from Mariama Ba to Lan Samantha Chang to Arundhati Roy to Zadie Smith.  Two student papers of interest to me are research posts on “Exile and Gender Oppression in Lucy” and “Racism and Realism in Colonial and Postcolonial Literature” or “An Exploration of Postcolonial Music.”  The websites on postcolonial topics that I would like to review range from general information on theorizing postcolonialism to Diasporas.  On the one hand, I am curious about the connection (if any) between Cyborgs and postcolonialism, and the discursive implications on identity, race, class, gender, and the study of literature.  In other words, what influence(s) or social impacts do technology, Internet avatars, and anything related to electronic communication have on the realm of postcolonialism?  (Does this even make sense?)

What I would hope to gather from the research project is to be familiar with Colonial and Postcolonialism as literary theories as well as historical, socio-political, economic constructs toward identity formation.  In a deconstructive stance, categorizing something as the thing itself restricts multiplicity of meanings and contradictorily loses its derived meaning.  Since Postcolonialism is an emerging field of literary study, issues surrounding our identity allow for important discourse in an ongoing basis. 

(Possible Title for Journal – Who Am I?:  Post-Colonial Discourse on Self and Other)