Ryan Smith

September 29, 2011 

Research Plan

            I will be choosing to do two research posts as the research option for our World Literature class. There are a number of topics that I am interested in, which made this option function better for me than the available research project. I will attempt to narrow down my focus, so that these two posts are succinct and informative, rather than broad and generalizing. Whatever topics are finally pursued, my interest will be, primarily, on the language of a certain group of people—their oral traditions, writings or literature. The reverse use of language interests me as well, so it may be worthwhile to examine how the language of the colonizers is used with and against the colonized. Both of Tim Assel’s posts were fascinating (from 2009), because of the political nature of his research. I may try to include the social aspect and impact of literature as I consider postcolonial writers and cultures. Another possible perspective would be to research a colonized culture’s religious changes, before, during and after colonization. Hopefully, as I gather material, topics will narrow and texts will appear that synthesize these diverse, but intimately related, ideas.

            The double-colonization of native, or colonized, women could prove to be an interesting and worthwhile topic. In fact, this topic could be used to unify each of the research posts. By choosing two, or more, women authors from different cultural backgrounds, one could analyze and explore the colonial/postcolonial interactions of each respective culture, while still focusing on one main theme.

            An area of interest, for me, is Native American studies. I’d like to learn more how about the various cultures and peoples living here before and after European settlement. Specifically, in keeping with my posited topics, I would look at Native American women writers, such as Louise Erdrich, or Leslie Marmon Silko. Earlier writers, or even oral traditions, could be examined, but the intent, hopefully, would be on modern conditions.

            Another possible direction for a research post would be to examine African American women writers, of which there is a daunting amount of material for. By looking at texts like Morrison’s Beloved—or, again, earlier texts and writings—an understanding of the double-colonized could be explored. Perhaps women writers from Africa itself could be researched. In either case, unique perspectives on gender/race/imperialism/etc. are bound to emerge.

            I expect most, if not all, of these ideas and writers to be rich in history, language, religion and political concerns. The fun, and challenge, will be to focus these ideas on specific texts, and particulars of cultures, all, of course, connecting with our postcolonial topic.