Welcome to Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art,

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art ›› 2015, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (1): 175-180.

• Studies in Western Literary Theory • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spivak's Strategies of Theoretical Construction for Subaltern Studies

Chen Yihua, Lin Peiyuan   

  1. the School of Liberal Arts, Ji'nan University (Guangzhou 510632, China)
  • Online:2015-01-25 Published:2015-04-04
  • About author:Chen Yihua is an associate professor of comparative literature in the School of Liberal Arts, Ji'nan University (Guangzhou 510632, China), with research focus on Anglo-American ethnic literature studies. Lin Peiyuan, Postgraduate student of comparative literature, Ji'nan University (Guangzhou 510632, China), specialized in Anglo-American ethnic literature studies.

Abstract: Spivak is a one of the core members of Subaltern Studies. She redefined the key categories and concepts of Subaltern Studies from a subaltern perspective, redefining the critical approaches of early Subaltern Studies. The paper argues that Spivak's Subaltern Studies, in a stricter sense, should not be viewed as a branch of postcolonial studies or feminist criticism. Subaltern Studies delineates the trajectory by which Subalterns' experiences are eliminated and reveals the political significance of Subalterns' resistance, which opens new possibilities for the Subalterns to enter the field of knowledge production.

Key words: Spivak, subaltern studies, subaltern experience, knowledge production, political significance