“Locating Imaginary Homelands: Literature, Geography, And Salman Rushdie” by Joanne P. Sharp: Summary and Critique

Introduction: Bridging Geography and Literature

• In “Locating Imaginary Homelands: Literature, Geography, and Salman Rushdie,” Joanne P. Sharp explores the intersection of geographical studies and fictional literature.
• Geographers traditionally treat literature as a tool to enhance their own geographical descriptions, but Sharp argues that literature can offer a “voice” that provides alternative insights into geographical processes (Sharp, 1996, p. 120).
• This paper delves into how literary texts, such as Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses, can serve as a critical resource for geographers (Sharp, 1996, p. 121).

Geography’s Use of Literature: A Critical Reassessment

• Geographers often utilize literary texts merely for “decorative” purposes, using them to create vivid depictions of landscapes (Tuan, 1978, p. 195).
• Sharp critiques this limited view, urging a more profound engagement with literary texts, beyond mere “causal ransacking,” to explore how fiction can provide a deeper understanding of space and identity (Sharp, 1996, p. 122).
• According to Caviedes (1987), literary texts often convey the essence of a place in ways that geographers, constrained by scientific language, cannot achieve (Sharp, 1996, p. 120).

Humanistic Geography and the Subversive Power of Literature

• Sharp highlights the work of humanistic geographers, such as Pocock (1981), who view literature as a reflection of the “human condition” and argue that fiction offers “truths” beyond mere factual reality (Sharp, 1996, p. 123).
• Literature’s potential to destabilize conventional geographical understandings is emphasized, advocating for its role in representing alternative spatial relations, migration, and identity formation (Sharp, 1996, p. 124).

Salman Rushdie: A Case Study in Geo-Literary Critique

• Rushdie’s novels, particularly The Satanic Verses, are presented as “self-consciously spatial texts,” exploring territorial identities and the hybrid subjectivity of migration (Sharp, 1996, p. 127).
• Sharp discusses how Rushdie’s blending of magical realism and cultural references challenges fixed geographical and cultural boundaries, portraying the fluidity of postcolonial identities (Rushdie, 1991, p. 376; Sharp, 1996, p. 128).

The Geopolitics of Reception and the “Rushdie Affair”

• Sharp examines how Rushdie’s work, especially The Satanic Verses, sparked significant geopolitical and cultural debates, particularly after the fatwa issued by Ayatollah Khomeini (Sharp, 1996, p. 130).
• The “Rushdie Affair” illustrates how literature’s power to question religious and cultural boundaries can trigger both intellectual and political responses, revealing the limitations of conventional geographical narratives (Said, 1993, p. 373).
• The conflict between the reception of Rushdie’s work in the West and the Islamic world highlights the role of literature in the geopolitics of representation (Sharp, 1996, p. 132).

Conclusion: The Power and Limits of Literary Geography

• Sharp concludes that literature, through its subversive potential, offers geographers a way to rethink the rigid distinctions between “us” and “them” in the mapping of identities.
• By examining the hybridized narratives of Rushdie’s characters, Sharp demonstrates the impossibility of authentic, fixed identities and how literature’s ability to “spiral away” from the real allows for new understandings of space and identity (Rushdie, 1991, p. 409; Sharp, 1996, p. 133).
• The article ultimately calls for a deeper, more critical engagement between geography and literature, recognizing the complex ways in which both disciplines construct and deconstruct the world (Sharp, 1996, p. 134).

Contribution to the Interdisciplinary Dialogue Between Geography and Literature

• Sharp’s article advocates for a deeper integration of literary texts into geographical studies, urging that geographers view literature not just as illustrative but as an alternative source that can offer valuable insights into geographical processes. She argues that literature can provide a “voice” that engages with the geographies created by academics, contributing to a more holistic understanding of space, migration, and identity (Sharp, 1996, p. 121).

Expansion of Humanistic Geography Through Literature

• Sharp’s work contributes to the field of humanistic geography by demonstrating how literary texts engage with the “human condition,” offering more than just geographical descriptions but also exploring the emotional and cultural dimensions of space. By introducing the notion that literature can provide a narrative “voice,” she challenges traditional geographers to rethink how they use literary sources (Sharp, 1996, p. 123).

Literature as a Tool for Subverting Geographical Norms

• The article underscores the subversive potential of literature, showing that fiction can destabilize established geographical and cultural norms. Sharp highlights how authors like Salman Rushdie use fiction to critique and challenge geographical realities, offering new ways of seeing and understanding space that transcend conventional geographic boundaries (Sharp, 1996, p. 125).

Application of Postmodern Literary Theory to Geography

• Sharp incorporates postmodern theory into geography, particularly the idea of the “crisis of representation” that challenges the objectivity of scientific discourse. She argues that geographical studies, like literary texts, are influenced by subjective interpretation and ideological lenses. This theoretical framework encourages a shift in geography toward more critical, subjective interpretations of space (Sharp, 1996, p. 124).

Theoretical Engagement with Hybrid Identities and Postcolonial Theory

• Sharp’s exploration of cultural hybridity, especially in the context of postcolonial theory, demonstrates the role of literature in constructing hybrid identities. By analyzing Rushdie’s characters as embodying hybrid subjectivities, she expands the theoretical discussion on identity, emphasizing fluidity and the blending of cultural influences, which is central to postcolonial studies (Sharp, 1996, p. 127).

Geo-Graphing as a Literary and Geographical Practice

• Sharp introduces the concept of geo-graphing, a term she uses to describe the way Rushdie’s texts map out new understandings of space and identity, particularly through magical realism and intertextuality. This concept adds to literary theory by connecting narrative practices with geographical representations, further demonstrating how literature can “write the earth” (Sharp, 1996, p. 127).

Reinterpretation of the Politics of Reception in Literary Theory

• Sharp’s analysis of the “Rushdie Affair” provides a unique contribution to literary theory by emphasizing how geopolitical context influences the reception of literary works. She shows that literature’s reception is not passive but is actively shaped by political and cultural tensions, which ties into debates within literary theory about the role of the reader and the power dynamics in interpreting texts (Sharp, 1996, p. 130).

Overemphasis on the Geographical Perspective

• Critics may argue that Sharp’s focus on geography as a framework for analyzing literature limits the scope of literary analysis. By prioritizing geographical implications, the emotional, psychological, and thematic complexities of the literature may not be fully explored.

Reduction of Literature to Geographical Terms

• Some critics might feel that Sharp’s approach reduces literary texts to mere tools for understanding geography. By analyzing works primarily through geographical and spatial lenses, the literary elements such as narrative style, character development, and symbolism could be underemphasized.

Neglect of Literary Aesthetics

• Sharp’s analysis may be seen as neglecting the aesthetic qualities of the literary works she critiques. For instance, the artistic merit, language, and stylistic techniques employed by authors might be overlooked in favor of reading the text through a geographical or political lens.

Limited Application of Theory

• Sharp’s use of geography and literature as interconnected fields might be considered too narrow, as it doesn’t fully engage with other interdisciplinary approaches, such as psychology, sociology, or gender theory, which could offer deeper or alternative interpretations of the texts.

Cultural Bias in Geographical Interpretations

• Some critics may argue that Sharp’s geographical critique reflects a Western-centric view of space and identity, potentially overlooking other global or local perspectives. This could limit the universality of her approach, making it less applicable to diverse literary traditions or non-Western contexts.

Overreliance on Postcolonial Theory

• Sharp’s use of postcolonial theory, particularly when analyzing hybrid identities, may be critiqued for overemphasizing postcolonial issues without considering the full range of experiences that contemporary literature engages with. This might result in a limited perspective on the works she critiques.

Insufficient Attention to Reader Reception

• While Sharp mentions the importance of the reception of Rushdie’s work, critics may argue that her focus on the text itself and its geographical themes overlooks the diversity of responses from readers across different cultures and backgrounds, missing out on a broader, more inclusive analysis.