What is postcolonialism?

The main question we try to ask in the postcolonialist perspective is: How did colonization affect the lives of the colonized?

Usually, the perspective is in regards to European colonization

Ex: Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe can be examined through a postcolonial lens to evaluate how the natives on the island near Trinidad are depicted and influenced through a European colonizer’s perspective.

Friday, a native on the island, is described as “smart” but only compared to the average “native savage”. Crusoe still considers himself to be superior and tries to civilize Friday by teaching him English. Essentially, Cursoe's purpose was to make Friday subservient to him. Friday and the natives have their own language and culture, but since they do not know Crusoe’s European culture, or the “correct” standard, the natives are deemed to be uncivilized.

Postcolonial criticism can also be expanded further to a broader context.

Ex: How did the Japanese occupation of Korea affect Korean culture and history?

Postcolonial theory is not just a branch under the umbrella of literary criticism, but also a body of study dealing with the history, culture, and sociological effects that result from colonization

Ex: examining Dosan Ahn-Chang Ho’s letters, March 1st Korean independence movement