“Against Authenticity: Global Knowledges And Postcolonial Ecocriticism” By Cara Cilano And Elizabeth Deloughrey: Summary And Critique

Introduction: “Against Authenticity: Global Knowledges And Postcolonial Ecocriticism” By Cara Cilano And Elizabeth Deloughrey

“Against Authenticity: Global Knowledges and Postcolonial Ecocriticism” by Cara Cilano and Elizabeth Deloughrey first appeared in Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment in the summer of 2007. This paper explores the intersection of postcolonial theory and ecocriticism, critiquing the universalized environmental frameworks that often dominate western ecological discourse. Cilano and Deloughrey argue that such frameworks, particularly deep ecology, tend to erase the complex socio-historical realities of postcolonial regions, privileging a biocentric perspective that can overshadow human inequalities. The authors build on the work of environmental scholars like Ramachandra Guha, highlighting the importance of recognizing the interconnectedness of human and environmental justice. The essay is significant in literary theory as it bridges two critical fields—postcolonialism and ecocriticism—urging scholars to rethink the limitations of Western-centric environmental models and promoting a more nuanced, interdisciplinary approach to global ecological issues. This work challenges traditional narratives by foregrounding the environmental impacts of colonialism and globalization, contributing to an evolving discourse that advocates for a more inclusive understanding of ecological and social justice.

Summary of “Against Authenticity: Global Knowledges And Postcolonial Ecocriticism” By Cara Cilano And Elizabeth Deloughrey

• Critique of Universal Ecological Frameworks
• The article begins by critiquing globalized ecological approaches, particularly the “biocentric view” promoted by deep ecologists, as it “indicates a lack of concern with inequalities within human society” (72). Cilano and Deloughrey build on Ramachandra Guha’s argument that such universal stances often overlook socio-historical inequalities that shape environmental issues in postcolonial regions. They emphasize that these frameworks can perpetuate colonial power dynamics, leading to a “rhetorical conflation of Eastern and indigenous religious traditions” with Western ecological goals (74).
• Orientalist Methodologies in Environmentalism
• Cilano and Deloughrey critique the “orientalist methodologies” of deep ecology, which portray the Global South as passive victims of environmental destruction caused by industrial powers from the Global North (77). They argue that “deep ecologists, Guha contends, rely on orientalist methodologies to argue for the universality of their position” (74), erasing the agency of non-Western nations in managing their own resources. This is a central issue for postcolonial critics who resist colonial histories embedded in Western environmentalism.
• Environmental Justice and Postcolonialism
• The article highlights that despite apparent differences, postcolonialism and ecocriticism share a commitment to “social and environmental justice” (73). The postcolonial critique of environmentalism often emphasizes how “western ecocritics have pressed against the national frameworks of literary studies” (73) to engage more with global environmental issues. However, postcolonial critics remain wary of ecocriticism’s “naturalization of a western white male subject” as the foundation of environmental discourse (73).
• 4. Postcolonial Critique of Ecocriticism’s Eurocentric Bias
• Cilano and Deloughrey point out the limitations of ecocriticism, particularly its tendency to re-center Western narratives of environmentalism. They argue that “ecocritical discourse of the U.S. frontier […] sidestep[s] the violent history that produced white settler culture” (73). This Eurocentric bias privileges settler colonial perspectives and limits the incorporation of postcolonial agency. The authors call for “a true relationship between postcolonial and ecocritical discourse” that resists these limitations and foregrounds postcolonial agency (75).
• 5. The Role of Ecofeminism and Interdisciplinarity
• Building on ecofeminist perspectives, the authors call for integrating interdisciplinary approaches that connect social, environmental, and gender justice. They argue that “ecofeminist work has already laid the groundwork for a critique of the anthropocentric bias of deep ecology” (73). They further suggest that “postcolonial topics should not be viewed as entirely new directions” in ecocriticism but rather as bringing “increased visibility to a western-based audience” (74), broadening the scope of ecocritical analysis.
• 6. Challenges of Representation and Knowledge Production
• Cilano and Deloughrey address the issues of representation in ecocriticism, particularly how Western scholars often claim to speak for non-Western ecologies without considering the cultural and historical contexts. They call for “an open dialogue about the diverse production of local and global knowledge(s)” to address environmental degradation (75). The article critiques “American exceptionalist discourse” in environmental studies, which frequently marginalizes non-Western perspectives (73).
• 7. Conclusion: Toward a Transnational, Interdisciplinary Ecocriticism
• The article concludes by advocating for a “transnational ethics of place” that recognizes the intersection of environmental justice and postcolonial agency (75). Cilano and Deloughrey emphasize that “a true relationship between postcolonial and ecocritical discourse” requires mutual respect for diverse knowledge systems and a rejection of Eurocentric, universalizing environmental models (79). They call for more interdisciplinary and globally engaged approaches to ecological issues.

Literary Terms/Concepts in “Against Authenticity:Global Knowledges And Postcolonial Ecocriticism” By Cara Cilano And Elizabeth Deloughrey

Literary Term/Concept	Definition/Explanation
Biocentric View	A worldview that places equal or greater value on non-human nature over human concerns, often criticized for ignoring social inequalities.
Orientalist Methodologies	Methods that project Western interpretations onto Eastern or indigenous cultures, often reinforcing colonial power dynamics.
Postcolonial Ecocriticism	An approach that examines environmental issues through the lens of postcolonial theory, focusing on colonial histories and global inequalities.
Social and Environmental Justice	A combined focus on social justice for marginalized communities and environmental sustainability.
Eurocentrism	A worldview that centers European values, knowledge, and experiences as universal or superior, often at the expense of other cultures.
Anthropocentrism	A human-centered worldview that places human needs and concerns above those of the natural world.
Deep Ecology	An environmental philosophy that advocates for the inherent value of all living beings, often critiqued for its universalist approach.
Epistemological Boundaries	The conceptual divisions between different systems of knowledge, often maintained by colonial or Western frameworks.
Environmental Justice Movements	Movements that seek to address the disproportionate environmental harm suffered by marginalized communities.
Ecofeminism	A theoretical approach that links feminist and ecological concerns, highlighting how both women and nature have been historically oppressed.

Contribution of “Against Authenticity: Global Knowledges And Postcolonial Ecocriticism” By Cara Cilano And Elizabeth Deloughrey to Literary Theory/Theories

Examples of Critiques Through “Against Authenticity: Global Knowledges And Postcolonial Ecocriticism” By Cara Cilano And Elizabeth Deloughrey

Literary Work	Critique Through “Against Authenticity”
“Life and Times of Michael K” by J.M. Coetzee	The article critiques how postcolonial literature like Coetzee’s work addresses themes of environmental and human agency in colonial and postcolonial contexts. Coetzee’s focus on a marginalized character parallels the article’s critique of the erasure of non-Western agency in deep ecology (Head, 28).
“Bless Me, Ultima” by Rudolfo Anaya	Through eco-feminist lenses, the article would critique how Anaya’s novel emphasizes the connection between indigenous knowledge and environmental stewardship. The narrative’s rootedness in local land reflects the article’s advocacy for non-Western, postcolonial agency in managing nature (73).
“The Hungry Tide” by Amitav Ghosh	The novel’s portrayal of indigenous and local relationships to the environment highlights the critique in the article of deep ecology’s universalism. Ghosh’s depiction of local conflict with global environmental models parallels the article’s critique of imposing Western ecological frameworks (Kaur, 83).
“Praisesong for the Widow” by Paule Marshall	Through the lens of the article, Marshall’s critique of tourism and environmental exploitation in the Caribbean resonates with the article’s emphasis on how postcolonial landscapes are often misrepresented and exploited by Western environmental discourses (Carrigan, 84).

Criticism Against “Against Authenticity: Global Knowledges And Postcolonial Ecocriticism” By Cara Cilano And Elizabeth Deloughrey

Representative Quotations from “Against Authenticity: Global Knowledges And Postcolonial Ecocriticism” By Cara Cilano And Elizabeth Deloughrey with Explanation

Quotation	Explanation
“Deep ecology [indicates] a lack of concern with inequalities within human society.” (72)	This critique highlights how deep ecology’s focus on non-human nature can overlook social and historical inequalities, particularly in postcolonial contexts where human oppression is intertwined with environmental exploitation.
“Deep ecologists, Guha contends, rely on orientalist methodologies to argue for the universality of their position.” (74)	The authors use Guha’s critique to show how deep ecology adopts an orientalist approach, assuming non-Western cultures inherently align with Western ecological ideals, thus erasing cultural specificity and complexity.
“A true relationship between postcolonial and ecocritical discourse must foreground postcolonial agency.” (75)	This quotation underscores the importance of acknowledging the agency of postcolonial nations in environmental management, challenging the paternalistic approach of some Western ecological models.
“Western ecocritics have pressed against the national frameworks of literary studies to engage with world environmental and social issues.” (73)	The authors acknowledge how Western ecocritics have attempted to move beyond national boundaries, but also emphasize the limitations of such efforts when they ignore postcolonial realities.
“Ecocriticism’s position within literary studies—that ‘imprisoned manifestation of late capitalism’—makes the movement open to charges of complicity.” (73)	This quotation reflects a critique of ecocriticism’s potential complicity with capitalist structures, suggesting that it often fails to adequately address the socio-political underpinnings of environmental issues.
“Ecofeminist work has already laid the groundwork for a critique of the anthropocentric bias of deep ecology.” (73)	The authors argue that ecofeminism has already addressed some of the issues raised by deep ecology, particularly its human-centered perspective, which often overlooks the gendered dimensions of environmental justice.
“Postcolonial topics should not be viewed as entirely new directions in the field of ecocriticism as much as they represent increased visibility.” (74)	This quotation critiques the assumption that postcolonial ecocriticism is a new field, emphasizing instead that it brings attention to perspectives that have been historically marginalized in environmental discourse.
“World systems theory cannot help us fully understand these interregional relationships because it cannot account for the common interests often established between the First and Third World elite.” (77)	This critique suggests that traditional theories like world systems theory are inadequate for explaining the complex, cross-regional environmental and economic relationships that span both postcolonial and global contexts.
“An environmental ethics requires all people, all particulars of culture, to be invited to the table.” (75)	The authors stress the importance of inclusivity in environmental discourse, arguing that a truly effective environmental ethics must consider the diverse cultural and social experiences of people across the globe.
“The nonwestern subject and landscape become the tabula rasa upon which to inscribe the agency of the western ecologist.” (77)	This quotation critiques how Western ecologists often project their own ideas onto non-Western environments, treating them as blank slates rather than acknowledging the agency and knowledge of local communities.

Suggested Readings: “Against Authenticity: Global Knowledges And Postcolonial Ecocriticism” By Cara Cilano And Elizabeth Deloughrey

1. Cilano, Cara, and Elizabeth DeLoughrey. “Against Authenticity: Global Knowledges and Postcolonial Ecocriticism.” Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment, vol. 14, no. 1, 2007, pp. 71–87. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44086558. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
2. Echterling, Clare. “Postcolonial Ecocriticism, Classic Children’s Literature, and the Imperial-Environmental Imagination in ‘The Chronicles of Narnia.’” The Journal of the Midwest Modern Language Association, vol. 49, no. 1, 2016, pp. 93–117. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44134678. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
3. Vital, Anthony. “Toward an African Ecocriticism: Postcolonialism, Ecology and ‘Life & Times of Michael K.’” Research in African Literatures, vol. 39, no. 1, 2008, pp. 87–106. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20109561. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.
4. HEISE, URSULA K. “Afterword: Postcolonial Ecocriticism and the Question of Literature.” Postcolonial Green: Environmental Politics and World Narratives, edited by Bonnie Roos and Alex Hunt, University of Virginia Press, 2010, pp. 251–58. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrkp7.18. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.