Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak

Stephen Morton (University of Southampton)
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Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak is best known for her formative contribution to postcolonial theory. Spivak's critical work also includes numerous articles, books, interviews and translations on topics ranging from poststructuralist thought and literary criticism; continental philosophy; feminist theory; Marxism and post-Marxism; to the plight of disempowered “subaltern” peoples who are excluded from political representation in postcolonial nation states such as India and Bangladesh; the international division of labour; the limitations of universal human rights discourses and international development policies; as well as readings and translations of nineteenth and twentieth-century literature.

Spivak's reputation as a postcolonial theorist is due in part to her persistent criticism of

3266 words

Citation: Morton, Stephen. "Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 10 May 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5906, accessed 19 March 2024.]

5906 Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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