Eurocentric View in Literature & Literary Theory

Etymology of Eurocentric View

The term “Eurocentric view” originates from the fusion of two significant components: “Euro,” denoting Europe, and “centric,” signifying a focus or concentration.

Coined in the mid-20th century, it emerged within the realms of post-colonial and cultural studies to depict a perspective or ideology that places Europe as the primary or central point of reference. Eurocentrism encapsulates a proclivity to prioritize European history, culture, and values as universal benchmarks against which other societies and cultures are often assessed or compared.

This concept serves as a critical tool for critiquing ethnocentric biases that historically elevated Europe to the pinnacle of global history and civilization. It underscores the imperative of adopting more inclusive and diverse perspectives when interpreting world cultures and their contributions.

Meanings of Eurocentric view

Aspect	Meanings
Europe-Centric Perspective	Eurocentric view primarily denotes a viewpoint that centers on Europe as the focal point, often to the exclusion or marginalization of other regions or cultures.
Prioritizing European Culture	It signifies a tendency to prioritize European history, culture, and values, considering them as the standard by which other cultures and societies are judged.
Western-Centrism	Eurocentrism is synonymous with a Western-centric worldview, where Western European thought and traditions are given preeminence in global contexts.
Historical and Colonial Legacy	It carries the historical legacy of European colonialism and imperialism, where European powers played a central role in shaping global affairs.
Critique of Ethnocentrism	Eurocentric viefw is used critically to highlight biases and prejudices in favor of European perspectives, prompting the need for a more balanced, diverse, and inclusive understanding of global history and culture.

Definition of Eurocentric view as a Theoretical Term

As a theoretical term, “Eurocentric view” refers to an ideological perspective that centers Europe as the primary point of reference, often excluding or downplaying the significance of other global regions and cultures. It underscores the prioritization of European history, values, and cultural norms, considering them as universal standards for evaluating other societies and civilizations.

Eurocentrism can be seen as a manifestation of Western-centric thought, deeply rooted in the historical legacy of European colonialism, and is often employed critically to identify and challenge ethnocentric biases that favor European viewpoints in the analysis of global history and culture.

Eurocentric View: Theorists, Works and Arguments

Eurocentric Theorists:

1. Edward Said: In his seminal work Orientalism, Said criticized Eurocentrism for its distortion of the East and the perpetuation of stereotypes, arguing that Western scholarship often misrepresented and marginalized non-Western cultures.
2. Immanuel Wallerstein: As a world-systems theorist, Wallerstein examined how Eurocentrism shaped the modern world system, emphasizing the dominance of the European core and the marginalization of the periphery.

Key Works:

1. “Orientalism” by Edward Said: This book is a foundational critique of Eurocentrism, exploring how Western scholars have historically portrayed the Orient, reinforcing the dominance of European perspectives.
2. “The Modern World-System” by Immanuel Wallerstein: Wallerstein’s work delves into the historical development of the modern world-system and the Eurocentric power structures that have characterized it.

Key Arguments:

1. Colonial Legacies and Power: Eurocentrism is rooted in the colonial legacy of European powers, which exploited and subjugated non-European societies, shaping contemporary power dynamics.
2. Cultural Hegemony: Eurocentrism perpetuates the dominance of European culture and values, often at the expense of non-European cultures, by positioning Europe as the standard against which all others are judged.
3. Distorted Representations: Eurocentrism has resulted in distorted representations of non-European societies, perpetuating stereotypes and misunderstandings, which hinder true cross-cultural understanding.
4. Global Hierarchies: Eurocentrism has played a pivotal role in establishing global hierarchies, with Europe and the West at the apex, reinforcing economic, political, and cultural domination.

These theorists, works, and arguments collectively underscore the critique of Eurocentrism, emphasizing the need for more inclusive, diverse, and balanced perspectives in academia and society, with a focus on the recognition and appreciation of non-European contributions and cultures.

Eurocentric View and Literary Theories

• Postcolonial Theory: Eurocentrism is highly relevant to postcolonial theory, as it addresses the legacy of European colonialism and its impact on literature and culture. Postcolonial theorists examine how Eurocentric perspectives have shaped the literary canon, often sidelining or misrepresenting the voices and experiences of colonized peoples.
• Feminist Literary Theory: Eurocentrism is explored within feminist literary theory, which critiques how Eurocentric norms and values have influenced the portrayal of gender roles and women’s experiences in literature. It underscores the need to challenge Eurocentric biases and broaden the understanding of diverse female voices.
• Critical Race Theory: Critical race theory engages with Eurocentrism by examining the ways in which it perpetuates racial hierarchies and reinforces stereotypes in literature. It calls for a reevaluation of Eurocentric perspectives and an acknowledgment of the impact on racial identities in literary narratives.
• World Literature Theory: In the context of world literature, Eurocentrism is relevant in discussions about what constitutes “world” literature. Critics within this theory question the predominance of European literary works in defining the global literary canon and advocate for a more inclusive representation of literary traditions from around the world.
• Decolonial Theory: Decolonial theorists address Eurocentrism by challenging the Eurocentric foundations of knowledge and literary discourse. They argue for decolonizing literature and culture by recognizing diverse epistemologies and perspectives beyond the Eurocentric framework.

Features of Eurocentric View:

• Dominance of European Culture: Eurocentrism places European culture, history, and values at the center, often considering them as superior or universal.
• Marginalization of Other Cultures: Non-European cultures are frequently marginalized or portrayed as inferior, leading to misrepresentations and stereotypes.
• Historical Eurocentrism: Eurocentric views often stem from the historical context of European colonialism and imperialism, where Europe played a central role in shaping global affairs.
• Western-Centric Perspective: Eurocentrism is synonymous with a Western-centric worldview, where Western European thought and traditions are given preeminence in global contexts.
• Cultural Hegemony: It reinforces the dominance of European culture and its influence on art, literature, and other cultural expressions, often eclipsing non-European contributions.
• Impact on Literary Canon: Eurocentrism influences the composition of the literary canon, often sidelining or overlooking literature from non-European regions and cultures.
• Reinforcement of Racial Hierarchies: Eurocentric views can perpetuate racial hierarchies, wherein European or Western identities are placed above others, leading to racial bias and discrimination in literature and culture.

Eurocentric View in Literary Criticism

Eurocentric View in Literary Criticism	Description
Prioritization of Western Literary Canon	Eurocentric literary criticism often gives precedence to works from Western Europe and North America, often sidelining literary traditions from other parts of the world.
Imposition of Western Literary Norms	Eurocentric critics may impose Western literary norms and values as universal standards, evaluating non-Western literature based on Western criteria, potentially resulting in misinterpretations.
Neglect of Non-Western Perspectives	Non-Western literature is sometimes overlooked, misunderstood, or misrepresented within Eurocentric literary criticism, contributing to the perpetuation of stereotypes and limiting cross-cultural understanding.
Cultural Hegemony	Eurocentric perspectives reinforce the dominance of European culture, leading to the exclusion of non-European cultural elements and values in literary analyses.
Colonial Legacies	Eurocentric literary criticism can uphold colonial legacies, where the European perspective often subjugates and misrepresents the voices and experiences of colonized peoples in literature.
Impact on Canon Formation	Eurocentrism significantly influences the formation of literary canons, shaping which works are deemed classics and perpetuating the Eurocentric bias in defining significant literature.
Need for Diverse Literary Criticism	Critics challenge Eurocentric views by advocating for more inclusive and diverse approaches to literary criticism, recognizing the richness and importance of non-Western literary traditions and voices.

Suggested Readings

1. Anzaldúa, Gloria. Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza. Aunt Lute Books, 1987.
2. Ashcroft, Bill, Gareth Griffiths, and Helen Tiffin. The Empire Writes Back: Theory and Practice in Post-Colonial Literatures. Routledge, 1989.
3. Bhabha, Homi K. The Location of Culture. Routledge, 1994.
4. Fanon, Frantz. The Wretched of the Earth. Grove Press, 1963.
5. Loomba, Ania. Colonialism/Postcolonialism. Routledge, 2005.
6. Mudimbe, V. Y. The Invention of Africa: Gnosis, Philosophy, and the Order of Knowledge. Indiana University Press, 1988.
7. Nandy, Ashis. The Intimate Enemy: Loss and Recovery of Self under Colonialism. Oxford University Press, 1983.
8. Said, Edward W. Orientalism. Vintage Books, 1979.
9. Spivak, Gayatri Chakravorty. In Other Worlds: Essays in Cultural Politics. Methuen, 1987.
10. Wallerstein, Immanuel. The Modern World-System: Capitalist Agriculture and the Origins of the European World-Economy in the Sixteenth Century. Academic Press, 1974.