“Scattered Speculations On The Subaltern And The Popular” Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak: Summary and Critique

Introduction: “Scattered Speculations On The Subaltern And The Popular” Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak

“Scattered Speculations on the Subaltern and the Popular” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak explores the complexities of marginalized voices and their representation in popular culture. This influential essay was first published in 2005 in the journal Postcolonial Studies. Spivak’s exploration of the subaltern, those who are excluded from dominant narratives, has significantly shaped literary theory and postcolonial studies. Her work challenges traditional notions of representation and invites readers to consider the ways in which marginalized voices are silenced or distorted in popular culture.

Summary of “Scattered Speculations On The Subaltern And The Popular” Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak

1. Subaltern vs. Popular Distinction: Spivak begins by contrasting the concepts of “subaltern” and “popular,” suggesting that the subaltern is removed from all lines of social mobility, whereas the popular relates more broadly to people, politics, and public perception. The subaltern is a position without identity, much like class is not cultural origin but a sense of economic collectivity. Spivak argues that the relaxation of the term “subaltern” into “popular” has undermined its specificity and usefulness. (Spivak, 2005, pp. 475-476)
2. Singularity and Subalternity: The concept of singularity, as discussed by Gilles Deleuze, is important in understanding subalternity. Spivak notes that singularity is not merely a particularity but an unrepeatable difference, which can be repeated as a singular instance rather than as an example of a universal. Subalternity, when understood generally, is a version of singularity because it resists generalization according to hegemonic logic. (Spivak, 2005, p. 476)
3. Historiography and the Subaltern: Spivak critiques traditional historiography, particularly its treatment of subaltern insurgency. The early subalternists, she notes, faced the challenge of recognizing subaltern voices within the texts of an elite that constituted their non-recognition. Spivak argues that subaltern studies should not merely recount the history of disenfranchised groups but should seek to expand the horizons of historiography to include the performative dimension of the subaltern’s resistance. (Spivak, 2005, p. 477)
4. Subaltern as a Position without Identity: Spivak emphasizes that subalternity is a position that does not permit the formation of a recognizable basis for action. It is not merely a lack of agency but a state where agency is not recognized or validated. This lack of recognition is connected to Marx’s notion of class, where certain groups are “incapable of asserting their class interest in their own name” due to the absence of infrastructural institutions. (Spivak, 2005, p. 478)
5. Gramsci and the Organic Intellectual: Spivak discusses Antonio Gramsci’s concept of the organic intellectual and its relevance to subalternity. She suggests that the subaltern historian, as an organic intellectual, must expand the horizon of historiography beyond the limits of traditional class logic. This expansion involves acknowledging the subaltern not just as a category but as a dynamic force that challenges established structures. (Spivak, 2005, p. 479)
6. Agency and the Subaltern: Spivak explores the relationship between agency and subalternity, arguing that agency requires the ability to “self-synecdochise,” or represent oneself as part of a collective. This performative contradiction is essential for the subaltern to engage in collective action. Spivak also critiques the notion of turning subalternity into a popular or empirical category, as this risks reducing the subaltern to mere objects of study rather than active subjects of resistance. (Spivak, 2005, p. 480)
7. Educational Initiatives and Subaltern Agency: Spivak reflects on her own efforts in teacher training as a means to engage with subaltern groups. She emphasizes the importance of creating infrastructure that allows the subaltern to achieve agency and participate in the public sphere. This involves not only educating the subaltern but also learning from them in order to develop a more inclusive philosophy of education. (Spivak, 2005, pp. 481-482)
8. The New Subaltern and Globalization: Spivak discusses the emergence of a new subaltern in the context of globalization. She highlights the permeability of the global subaltern to exploitation, particularly in terms of intellectual property and labor. Spivak warns against the appropriation of subaltern identity for globalist or nationalist agendas and calls for a vigilant contamination of historiography to resist these trends. (Spivak, 2005, pp. 483-484)
9. Contaminating Historiography: Finally, Spivak argues that the task of subaltern studies is to actively contaminate traditional historiography by incorporating the performative and constative dimensions of subaltern resistance. This approach challenges the tame category of the “popular” and seeks to engage with the dynamic reality of subaltern agency in the present. (Spivak, 2005, p. 484)

Literary Terms/Concepts in “Scattered Speculations On The Subaltern And The Popular” Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak

Concept	Explanation
Subalternity	A position of exclusion from dominant social and political structures.
Singularity	A unique and unrepeatable difference that can be repeated.
Agency	The ability to act independently and influence one’s circumstances.
Subject-Formation	The process through which individuals become subjects, shaped by social and cultural forces.
Historiography	The study of the writing of history.
Gendered Subalternity	The specific experiences of subalternity faced by women, shaped by both class and gender.
Popular Culture	The cultural products and practices widely consumed by the general public.
Infrastructure	The underlying structures and systems that shape society.
Metonymy/Synecdoche	Figures of speech involving the substitution of one thing for another.

Contribution of “Scattered Speculations On The Subaltern And The Popular” Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak to Literary Theory/Theories

1. Postcolonial Theory: Spivak’s essay significantly contributes to postcolonial theory by challenging the traditional focus on the nation-state and colonial power structures. She introduces the concept of subalternity, which refers to those who are marginalized and excluded from dominant narratives. By centering the subaltern, Spivak shifts the focus of postcolonial studies towards the experiences of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups. “Subalternity is a position without identity. It is somewhat like the strict understanding of class. Class is not a cultural origin, it is a sense of economic collectivity, of social relations of formation as the basis of action.”  
2. Marxist Theory: Spivak draws on Marxist concepts, such as class and agency, to analyze the subaltern’s position. She critiques Marxist approaches that often overlook the experiences of marginalized groups and argues for a more nuanced understanding of class and power relations. “I came to it through the very well-known and often misunderstood passage in the Eighteenth Brumaire, where Marx is talking about class formation in two ways, about how the same group of people are, and are not, a class, depending upon whether they have a consciousness of class.”  
3. Feminist Theory: Spivak’s essay also contributes to feminist theory by analyzing the intersection of gender and subalternity. She argues that the experiences of women are shaped by both class and gender, and that a truly feminist analysis must consider the complexities of these intersecting identities.Quote: “The gendered subaltern, for me, kept moving down the social strata. Class is not the exact word here because we are speaking of an area beside capital logic.”  
4. Poststructuralist Theory: Spivak’s use of poststructuralist concepts, such as deconstruction and différance, allows her to challenge the notion of a fixed and stable identity. She argues that the subaltern’s identity is constantly in flux and is shaped by power relations and discourses. Quote: “Singularity is life as pure immanence, what will be, of this life, as life. As the name Bhubaneswari Bhaduri became a teaching text, it took on this imperative / repeat as singular /, as does literature.”  

Examples of Critiques Through “Scattered Speculations On The Subaltern And The Popular” Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak

Literary Work & Author	Spivak’s Critique (Based on “Scattered Speculations on the Subaltern and the Popular”)
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad	Spivak might critique Conrad’s portrayal of African characters as subalterns who are denied agency and representation. The novel could be seen as reinforcing the colonial narrative that silences the voices of the colonized, treating them as “subaltern” without identity or agency, echoing Spivak’s concern with the non-recognition of subaltern resistance.
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe	Spivak could analyze Achebe’s work as a counter-narrative to colonial literature, highlighting how it attempts to give voice to the subaltern African communities. However, she might also explore how the novel’s depiction of traditional Igbo society and its eventual downfall under colonialism reflects the complexity of subalternity and the challenges of representation.
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys	Spivak might focus on the character of Antoinette as a subaltern figure who is silenced and marginalized by colonial and patriarchal structures. The novel’s exploration of race, gender, and madness could be seen as an attempt to make the “unrecognizable resistance” of the subaltern woman visible, aligning with Spivak’s emphasis on recognizing subalternity.
Beloved by Toni Morrison	Morrison’s depiction of Sethe and other enslaved characters could be critiqued through Spivak’s framework by examining how the novel addresses the subaltern’s struggle for agency and recognition. Spivak might explore how Beloved confronts the historical erasure of Black voices and the complexities of memory and trauma in the context of subalternity.

Criticism Against “Scattered Speculations On The Subaltern And The Popular” Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak

1. Essentialism: Some critics argue that Spivak’s concept of subalternity is essentialist, as it implies a fixed and homogeneous identity for marginalized groups. They contend that this essentialism can overlook the diversity and complexity of subaltern experiences.
2. Overemphasis on the Unrepresentable: Critics have also pointed out that Spivak’s focus on the unrepresentable subaltern can lead to a neglect of the ways in which subaltern voices are represented in popular culture and other forms of media.
3. Neglect of Agency: Some argue that Spivak underestimates the agency of subaltern subjects, focusing too much on their powerlessness and exclusion. They contend that subaltern groups can and do exercise agency, even in limited ways.
4. Western-Centric Perspective: Critics have questioned whether Spivak’s analysis is unduly Western-centric, focusing primarily on Western colonial discourses and neglecting the specificities of subaltern experiences in different cultural contexts.
5. Difficulty of Application: Some have found it challenging to apply Spivak’s concept of subalternity to specific historical and cultural contexts, arguing that it is too abstract and difficult to operationalize.
6. Limited Focus on the Popular: While the essay is titled “Scattered Speculations on the Subaltern and the Popular,” some critics argue that it primarily focuses on the subaltern and neglects a more in-depth analysis of the popular.

Suggested Readings: “Scattered Speculations On The Subaltern And The Popular” Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak

Representative Quotations from “Scattered Speculations On The Subaltern And The Popular” Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak with Explanation

Quote	Explanation
“Subaltern is to popular as gender is to sex, class to poverty, state to nation.”	Spivak compares the subaltern to other marginalized categories, highlighting the complexities of identity and power relations.
“The disciplinary interest of literary criticism is in the singular and the unverifiable.”	Spivak emphasizes the importance of focusing on individual and unique experiences, rather than generalizing about subalternity.
“Singularity is life as pure immanence, what will be, of this life, as life.”	Spivak introduces the concept of singularity, which refers to a unique and unrepeatable difference.
“Subalternity is a position without identity.”	Spivak challenges the notion of a fixed and stable subaltern identity, arguing that it is constantly in flux and shaped by power relations.
“Agency was the name I gave to institutionally validated action, assuming collectivity, distinguished from the formation of the subject, which exceeds the outlines of individual intention.”	Spivak connects agency to the recognition of one’s actions by dominant structures, arguing that it is often denied to the subaltern.
“The subaltern has no ‘examples’. The exemplary subaltern is hegemonized, even if (and not necessarily) in bad faith.”	Spivak warns against representing subalternity through idealized or exceptional cases, arguing that this can obscure the complexities of subaltern experiences.
“Gender is the alibi for much US interference abroad.”	Spivak critiques the ways in which gender is used to justify Western interventions in other countries.
“Popular culture can both represent and obscure the experiences of the subaltern.”	Spivak acknowledges the potential of popular culture to both empower and marginalize subaltern voices.
“The solution is not to create ‘a politics of recognition’ where this problematic is altogether ignored.”	Spivak argues against a purely recognition-based approach to addressing subalternity, emphasizing the need for structural changes.
“This is where the humanities can reclaim a part of history for the ‘human’ as it plays with qualitative social science.”	Spivak calls for a more interdisciplinary approach to studying the subaltern, combining humanities and social science methods.