Ania Loomba is a distinguished Indian literary scholar whose work delves deeply into the themes of colonialism and postcolonialism. Her research intricately connects early modern literature with historical studies of race and colonialism, focusing on critical analyses of Shakespeare and Renaissance theater. Loomba examines the enduring impact of early European encounters with India and other regions to illuminate the origins and evolution of racism. Her approach synthesizes feminist theory with contemporary Indian literature and culture, offering readers a multifaceted perspective on literary and historical phenomena.
Examining the depiction of cultural, religious, and ethnic difference in Shakespeare's plays, this book considers how seventeenth-century ideas differed from the later ideologies of 'race' that emerged during colonialism, as well as from older ideas about barbarism, blackness, and religious difference.
During the past forty years, South Asia has been the location and the focus of dynamic, important feminist scholarship and activism. In this collection of essays, prominent feminist scholars and activists build on that work to confront pressing new challenges for feminist theorizing and practice. Examining recent feminist interventions in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, they address feminist responses to religious fundamentalism and secularism; globalization, labor, and migration; militarization and state repression; public representations of sexuality; and the politics of sex work. Their essays attest to the diversity and specificity of South Asian locations and feminist concerns, while also demonstrating how feminist engagements in the region can enrich and advance feminist theorizing globally. Contributors . Flavia Agnes, Anjali Arondekar, Firdous Azim, Anannya Bhattacharjee, Laura Brueck, Angana P. Chatterji, Malathi de Alwis, Toorjo Ghose, Amina Jamal, Ratna Kapur, Lamia Karim, Ania Loomba, Ritty A. Lukose, Vasuki Nesiah, Sonali Perera, Atreyee Sen, Mrinalini Sinha, Ashwini Sukthankar
Colonialism/Postcolonialism is the essential introduction to this area of literary and cultural study. It is the ideal guide for students of postcolonial studies and theory.