‘Third World Literature’ functions as a counter-canon that limits admissible questions.
Evidence
Analogous procedures of privileging certain kinds of authors, texts, genres and questions seem to be under way now with regard to ‘Third World Literature’ The essential task of a ‘Third World’ novel, it is said, is to give appropriate form (preferably allegory, but epic also, or fairy tale, or whatever) to the national experience. The range of questions that may be asked of the texts which are currently in the process of being canonized within this categorical counter-canon must predominantly refer, then, in one way or another, to representations of colonialism, nationhood, postcoloniality, the typology of rulers, their powers, corruptions, and so forth. — Aijaz Ahmad, In Theory, 485
Categorization
- XREF: Directly parallel to the strategic-essentialism problem: a category adopted ‘strategically’ still disciplines which questions can be asked once it is operative. — connects to: The Third World Literature canon marginalizes texts outside its authorized questions — Aijaz Ahmad, In Theory: Nations, Classes, Literatures, 211; An aggregation of texts requires binding ideology to become a counter-canon. — Aijaz Ahmad, In Theory: Classes, Nations, Literatures, 360; Even marginal texts suffer whenever nation-theme questions dominate Third World reading. — Aijaz Ahmad, In Theory: Classes, Nations, Literatures, 486 (+2 more)
- DEFINE: Charts the emerging counter-canon’s prescribed forms (allegory, epic) and its foreclosed questions.
Broader Connections
- The Third World Literature canon marginalizes texts outside its authorized questions
#expands(0.95) — Aijaz Ahmad, In Theory, 211 - An aggregation of texts requires binding ideology to become a counter-canon.
#expands(0.80) — Aijaz Ahmad, In Theory, 360 - A counter-canon arises only from an ideological cement, not aggregation
#expands(0.78) — Aijaz Ahmad, In Theory, 143 - Even marginal texts suffer whenever nation-theme questions dominate Third World reading.
#exemplifies(0.75) — Aijaz Ahmad, In Theory, 486