Introduction: “Postcolonialism and the Deconstructive Scenario: Representing Gayatri Spivak” by Beverley Best
“Postcolonialism and the Deconstructive Scenario: Representing Gayatri Spivak,” authored by Beverley Best, first appeared in Environment and Planning D: Society and Space in 1999 (Volume 17, pages 475–494). This article explores the complexities of Gayatri Spivak’s critical theoretical contributions, addressing the perceived difficulty and inaccessibility of her writings. Best undertakes an exegetical analysis of key concepts central to Spivak’s postcolonial discourse, such as aporia, catachresis, subalternity, and the interrelation between the narrow and the general. These ideas are meticulously explored as signposts guiding readers through Spivak’s formulation of postcolonialism as a deconstructive framework. Of particular significance is Spivak’s integration of Marxian critique, which underscores the political economy of intellectual production and its entanglement with the global division of labor. Best’s analysis situates Spivak as a thinker who intertwines deconstruction with postcolonial critique, illuminating how economic, cultural, and political structures of power influence intellectual work and representation. This article holds importance in literary theory for elucidating Spivak’s challenge to epistemic and representational norms, while also emphasizing the ethical responsibilities of postcolonial scholarship.
Summary of “Postcolonialism and the Deconstructive Scenario: Representing Gayatri Spivak” by Beverley Best
Introduction: Addressing the Complexity of Spivak’s Work
- Difficulty of Interpretation: Spivak’s writings are recognized for their complexity, which often deters deep engagement with her ideas (Best, 1999, p. 475). This article aims to elucidate key themes in Spivak’s work to make them more accessible while maintaining their intricate nuances.
- Exegetical Approach: Rather than critique Spivak’s formulations, Best focuses on explaining pivotal concepts such as aporia, catachresis, subalternity, and the interplay between specific and general contexts (Best, 1999, p. 476).
Constitutive Aporia and Deconstruction
- Aporia as Foundational: The concept of aporia—an irresolvable paradox underpins all meaning and identity in Spivak’s work. This duality between essentialism and anti-essentialism is central to her deconstructive framework (Best, 1999, p. 477).
- Subjectivity as a Textual Effect: Spivak conceptualizes the subject as both a product of intersecting ideological networks and a provisional boundary to resist undecidability (Best, 1999, p. 477).
- Mother-Tongue as an Allegory: Spivak uses the concept of the mother-tongue to exemplify how identity and meaning are inherited yet can be reshaped, reflecting the paradoxical nature of deconstruction (Best, 1999, p. 478).
Catachresis and Strategic Naming
- Naming as a Strategy: Spivak argues that names (e.g., ‘subaltern,’ ‘woman,’ ‘worker’) are catachrestic constructs—terms without adequate referents—that enable narratives to form for political purposes (Best, 1999, p. 479).
- Subalternity in Historiography: Spivak’s analysis of the Subaltern Studies group highlights their attempt to represent marginalized voices while acknowledging the inherent cognitive failure of such projects (Best, 1999, p. 480).
- Strategic Essentialism: Essentialism is seen as a necessary, albeit temporary, tool to further political objectives. This positions naming as both enabling and limiting (Best, 1999, p. 481).
Postcoloniality and the Deconstructive Scenario
- Interplay of the Specific and the General: Spivak frames postcolonialism as a deconstructive case, where the specific struggles of postcolonial identities exemplify broader epistemological issues of undecidability and decision-making (Best, 1999, p. 482).
- Postcolonial Intellectual’s Dilemma: Postcolonial scholars operate within Western frameworks while critiquing them, embodying a deconstructive stance of inhabiting and resisting oppressive systems simultaneously (Best, 1999, p. 483).
Value and Representation: A Marxist Perspective
- Marx’s Influence on Spivak: Spivak integrates Marx’s analysis of value as a representational mechanism, showing parallels between economic abstraction and intellectual production (Best, 1999, p. 490).
- Value as Catachresis: In both Marx and Spivak’s work, ‘value’ serves as a master concept to navigate systems of exchange and representation, illustrating the inescapability of abstraction in understanding systemic structures (Best, 1999, p. 491).
Critique of Intellectual Positionality
- Critic’s Complicity: Spivak underscores the complicity of intellectuals in perpetuating systems they critique, whether through representation or engagement in global academic practices (Best, 1999, p. 485).
- Native Informant Role: Postcolonial scholars risk reinforcing Western-centric narratives when representing the margins, highlighting the necessity of self-reflexivity (Best, 1999, p. 486).
Conclusion: Deconstruction and Political Utility
- Deconstruction’s Double-Edged Nature: Spivak views deconstruction as both revealing the violence of representation and enabling political action. This paradox mirrors Marx’s critical use of capitalist structures for revolutionary purposes (Best, 1999, p. 493).
- Persistent Critique: Both Spivak and Marx advocate for a continuous critique of systems one cannot escape, aligning deconstruction with a transformative political praxis (Best, 1999, p. 494).
Theoretical Terms/Concepts in “Postcolonialism and the Deconstructive Scenario: Representing Gayatri Spivak” by Beverley Best
| Theoretical Term/Concept | Definition | Relevance in Spivak’s Framework |
| Aporia | An irresolvable paradox that underpins meaning, identity, and knowledge. | Central to deconstruction; highlights the impossibility of fully resolving tensions like essentialism vs. anti-essentialism. |
| Catachresis | A rhetorical term used by Spivak to describe naming practices where no adequate referent exists. | Enables the construction of narratives and political mobilization despite inherent inaccuracies (e.g., ‘subaltern’ or ‘woman’). |
| Subaltern | A term for marginalized or oppressed groups excluded from hegemonic power structures. | Represents those whose voices are systematically silenced; marks the limits of history and representation. |
| Strategic Essentialism | Temporary and tactical use of essentialist categories for political purposes. | Allows for pragmatic action while acknowledging the limitations and risks of essentialist representation. |
| Deconstructive Scenario | A framework that examines how foundational paradoxes (e.g., undecidability) structure all forms of meaning and identity. | Positions postcolonialism as inherently deconstructive, requiring simultaneous inhabitation and critique of oppressive systems. |
| Value (Marxist) | A concept in Marx’s critique of capitalism representing abstract labor embedded in commodities. | Reinterpreted by Spivak as a masterword (catachresis) to discuss the abstraction inherent in systems of exchange and representation. |
| Value-Coding | The process of abstraction and recoding that facilitates exchange and communication. | Connects intellectual work and global capitalism; critiques the complicity of cultural production in capitalist exploitation. |
| Representation | Dual meaning: speaking for (Vertretung) and re-presentation (Darstellung). | Highlights the discontinuity and complicity between representing others and constructing portrayals of them. |
| Epistemic Violence | The harm done through systems of knowledge production that marginalize or erase certain groups. | Critiques intellectual practices, including postcolonial scholarship, that perpetuate structures of domination. |
| Postcoloniality | The geopolitical and cultural condition of societies emerging from colonial rule. | Framed as a deconstructive position involving critique and inhabitation of Western political and economic structures. |
| Mother-Tongue | A metaphor for identity and meaning derived from inherited but transformable structures. | Demonstrates the paradox of inhabiting and reshaping inherited systems of language and culture. |
| Native Informant | The role assigned to postcolonial intellectuals who represent marginalized groups to Western audiences. | Critiques how postcolonial scholars risk reinforcing Western dominance by speaking on behalf of the subaltern. |
| Undecidability | A condition where decisions must be made despite the impossibility of resolving fundamental contradictions. | Underpins the necessity of continuous critique and action in the face of irresolvable tensions. |
| International Division of Labour | A system of global economic disparity shaped by historical imperialism and maintained by capitalist structures. | Links postcolonial oppression to global capitalism; critiques the exploitation perpetuated through neocolonial economic arrangements. |
Contribution of “Postcolonialism and the Deconstructive Scenario: Representing Gayatri Spivak” by Beverley Best to Literary Theory/Theories
1. Advancing Postcolonial Theory
- Critique of Subalternity Representation: Best foregrounds Spivak’s assertion that the subaltern cannot speak within dominant systems of representation. She critiques the asymmetrical relationship between the intellectual and the subaltern, which challenges simplistic frameworks in postcolonial narratives (Best, 1999, p. 480).
- Strategic Essentialism: The article elaborates on Spivak’s concept of “strategic essentialism,” showcasing its utility in enabling marginalized groups to mobilize politically despite the risks of essentialist reductionism (p. 210).
- Postcoloniality as a Deconstructive Scenario: Best situates postcoloniality within the deconstructive framework, emphasizing its dual positionality of inhabiting and critiquing Western structures (p. 280).
2. Integration with Deconstruction
- Aporia in Postcolonial Identity: By framing postcoloniality as a deconstructive scenario, Best highlights how Spivak integrates Derridean aporias to theorize postcolonial identity, emphasizing the undecidability and paradoxes in meaning and subjectivity (p. 477).
- Textuality and Epistemic Violence: Best discusses Spivak’s critique of the textual nature of representation and its epistemic violence, which aligns with deconstruction’s interrogation of fixed meanings (p. 490).
3. Contributions to Marxist Critique
- Marxist Value Theory Reimagined: The article connects Spivak’s use of Marx’s concept of value to postcolonialism, reframing value as a catachresis and a site of epistemological abstraction and representation (p. 490).
- Critique of Neocolonial Capitalism: Best illustrates how Spivak critiques the international division of labor as a continuation of imperialism, thus integrating Marxist economic analysis into postcolonial studies (p. 488).
4. Rethinking Feminist Literary Criticism
- Intersection with Feminism: The article explores Spivak’s feminist critique of patriarchy within postcolonialism, highlighting how her work intersects with feminist theories to examine the gendered subaltern experience (p. 486).
- Representation and Positionality: Best underscores Spivak’s insistence on the visible acknowledgment of intellectuals’ positionality and complicity, a contribution to feminist standpoint theory (p. 483).
5. Redefining Representation in Literary Theory
- Vertretung vs. Darstellung: Best’s analysis clarifies Spivak’s differentiation between representing as proxy (Vertretung) and re-presenting (Darstellung), contributing to debates on representation in cultural and literary theory (p. 275).
- Native Informant Critique: Spivak’s critique of the role of the “native informant” is shown to challenge how postcolonial intellectuals are implicated in reproducing colonial narratives, influencing ethical practices in postcolonial and literary studies (p. 255).
6. Contributions to the Theory-Practice Relationship
- Linking Theory and Practice: Best emphasizes how Spivak bridges the gap between theoretical critique and practical political engagement, framing theory as inherently tied to the conditions of its production (p. 255).
- Deconstruction of Institutional Intellectual Work: The article critiques the role of intellectual work in perpetuating structures of oppression, advocating for continuous self-scrutiny by theorists and critics (p. 488).
7. Enhancing Critical Theory
- Critique of Western Epistemologies: Best situates Spivak’s critique of Eurocentric frameworks, such as Foucault’s power-knowledge theory, as a contribution to critical theory by revealing the limitations of Western thought in postcolonial contexts (p. 287).
- Foregrounding Political Economy in Critique: The integration of Spivak’s Marxian analysis with literary theory underscores the material conditions underlying cultural production and representation (p. 291).
Examples of Critiques Through “Postcolonialism and the Deconstructive Scenario: Representing Gayatri Spivak” by Beverley Best
| Literary Work | Key Themes/Critique Using Spivak’s Framework | Relevance to Best’s Discussion |
| Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness | – Representation of the Other: Explores the complicity of European intellectual frameworks in constructing the colonized as subaltern. – Epistemic Violence: Analyzes how the narrative structure excludes authentic native voices. | Best connects Spivak’s critique of representation to Conrad’s portrayal of Africa as a “silent Other,” emphasizing the impossibility of fully representing subaltern perspectives (p. 475). |
| E.M. Forster’s A Passage to India | – Subalternity and Colonial Ambivalence: Highlights the tensions between anti-imperial sentiment and complicity with colonial frameworks. – Strategic Essentialism: Examines attempts to unify Indian identity against colonial domination. | Best applies Spivak’s theories to illustrate how Forster’s narrative strategies risk reinforcing the epistemic violence inherent in colonialist narratives, even when critical of empire (p. 481). |
| Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea | – Catachresis and Feminine Voice: Explores the absence of Antoinette’s authentic voice as a reflection of the textual exclusion of marginalized subjects. – Postcolonial Feminism: Examines the intersection of gender and race in colonial contexts. | Best utilizes Spivak’s critique of the “native informant” to reveal how Rhys’s reimagining of Bertha Mason negotiates the complexities of representing subaltern women within a colonial framework (p. 487). |
| Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart | – Subaltern Agency: Analyzes Okonkwo as a figure embodying the contradictions of resistance and complicity with colonial modernity. – Colonial Textuality: Highlights the crisis in representing African epistemologies within Western literary forms. | Best draws on Spivak’s concept of the aporia to critique how Achebe’s narrative simultaneously challenges and is shaped by colonial structures of representation (p. 489). |
Criticism Against “Postcolonialism and the Deconstructive Scenario: Representing Gayatri Spivak” by Beverley Best
- Accessibility of Language:
- Critics argue that Best’s dense academic prose mirrors Spivak’s perceived impenetrability, making the work less accessible to a broader audience.
- The abstract theoretical terms might alienate readers unfamiliar with deconstructive and postcolonial jargon.
- Over-Reliance on Spivak’s Framework:
- Some contend that Best excessively adheres to Spivak’s concepts without critically interrogating their limitations or potential inconsistencies.
- The lack of alternative theoretical perspectives in the discussion reduces the scope of the analysis.
- Lack of Practical Examples:
- While engaging with Spivak’s theoretical framework, the essay provides limited direct application to real-world postcolonial scenarios or non-literary contexts, which could have strengthened its practical relevance.
- Neglect of Broader Postcolonial Voices:
- Critics note that the discussion focuses narrowly on Spivak, sidelining contributions from other influential postcolonial thinkers like Edward Said, Homi Bhabha, or Franz Fanon.
- This narrow scope risks portraying Spivak’s perspective as singularly definitive for postcolonialism.
- Ambiguity in Political Implications:
- The discussion on the political economy of intellectual work and complicity with capitalist structures, while insightful, lacks concrete suggestions for action or reform.
- Critics suggest that it problematizes representation without offering pathways to mitigate epistemic violence effectively.
- Reductionism in Literary Critique:
- Best’s application of Spivak’s deconstructive lens to literary texts is critiqued for occasionally oversimplifying or generalizing complex narratives into examples of epistemic violence or subalternity.
- Neglect of Audience Positionality:
- Some scholars argue that Best’s analysis does not adequately address the positionality of her audience, including the impact of Spivak’s theories on readers from non-academic or marginalized backgrounds.
Representative Quotations from “Postcolonialism and the Deconstructive Scenario: Representing Gayatri Spivak” by Beverley Best with Explanation
| Quotation | Explanation |
| “The reputed ‘difficulty’ of the texts of Gayatri Spivak poses an obstacle to potentially productive reflection on, and debate surrounding, her critical positions and analyses.” | Highlights the challenges Spivak’s complex prose presents to academic engagement and emphasizes Best’s aim of simplifying these ideas without oversimplifying their complexity. |
| “A mother-tongue is a language with a history—in that sense it is ‘instituted’—before our birth and after our death.” | Uses Spivak’s metaphor of the mother tongue to illustrate the interplay between personal identity and broader historical and institutional structures, exemplifying the dual role of language as both inherited and reshaped by individuals. |
| “The constitutive aporia—the necessary paradox which structures and makes possible all meaning, knowledge, identity, subjectivity/objectivity—underwrites virtually every moment of Spivak’s work.” | Explains Spivak’s central concept of aporia, emphasizing the irreducible contradictions that shape knowledge and identity, particularly in postcolonial and deconstructive scenarios. |
| “The historical predicament of the colonial subaltern can be made to become the allegory of the predicament of all thought, all deliberative consciousness.” | Positions the colonial subaltern as a metaphor for broader philosophical struggles, including the tensions between representation and agency, making Spivak’s work relevant to both postcolonial and general theoretical discourses. |
| “The postcolonial intellectual must negotiate the dangerousness of (neo)colonial structures of the First World while making use of them.” | Describes the inherent contradictions faced by postcolonial intellectuals, who critique Western structures while relying on them to communicate and engage globally, encapsulating the deconstructive scenario of postcolonialism. |
| “The Subaltern Studies group must ‘fall prey to its own critique,’ as its antiessentialist framework requires strategic essentialism to represent the subaltern.” | Critiques the Subaltern Studies group’s need to use essentialist strategies despite their commitment to antiessentialism, exemplifying the paradoxes inherent in representing marginalized voices. |
| “The violent structure of imperialism continues to exert influence through the structures of knowledge production.” | Indicates that the legacy of imperialism is perpetuated through academic and intellectual practices, emphasizing the complicity of knowledge systems in maintaining global inequalities. |
| “Value is a differential and a representation… an abstraction that is represented in exchange-value.” | Demonstrates how Spivak extends Marx’s concept of value to the realm of cultural production, showing the parallels between economic and epistemological systems of abstraction and exchange. |
| “The catachresis of naming allows history to be rewritten, but this rewriting itself is contingent and incomplete.” | Explores Spivak’s concept of catachresis (misuse of terms), where naming is a necessary but flawed strategy for reclaiming marginalized identities and histories, underscoring the provisional nature of representation. |
| “Postcoloniality is a deconstructive case: it involves saying the ‘impossible no’ to a structure which one critiques yet inhabits intimately.” | Encapsulates the central tension of postcolonial critique: the need to reject and critique oppressive structures while simultaneously relying on them, a hallmark of deconstruction. |
Suggested Readings: “Postcolonialism and the Deconstructive Scenario: Representing Gayatri Spivak” by Beverley Best
- Best, Beverley. “Postcolonialism and the deconstructive scenario: representing Gayatri Spivak.” Environment and Planning D: Society and Space 17.4 (1999): 475-494.
- Drichel, Simone. “Towards a ‘Radical Acceptance of Vulnerability’: Postcolonialism and Deconstruction.” SubStance, vol. 42, no. 3, 2013, pp. 46–66. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24540724. Accessed 29 Dec. 2024.
- Attridge, Derek. “Deconstruction Today: Literature, Postcolonialism and the Secret.” Reading and Responsibility: Deconstruction’s Traces, Edinburgh University Press, 2010, pp. 34–50. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3366/j.ctt1r23bm.7. Accessed 29 Dec. 2024.
- Williams, Jeffrey. “The Death of Deconstruction, the End of Theory, and Other Ominous Rumors.” Narrative, vol. 4, no. 1, 1996, pp. 17–35. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20107069. Accessed 29 Dec. 2024.
- Moore-Gilbert, Bart. “MARXISM AND POSTCOLONIALISM RECONSIDERED.” Hungarian Journal of English and American Studies (HJEAS), vol. 7, no. 2, 2001, pp. 9–27. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41274143. Accessed 29 Dec. 2024.