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In or Between the Cultures: Hybridity in American Dervish

Year 2021, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 139 - 148, 30.04.2021
https://doi.org/10.29110/soylemdergi.881481

Abstract

This study analyzes American Dervish in the light of Homi Bhabha’s cultural theory. As a postcolonial theorist, Bhabha who also had a colonial past has made significant contributions to cultural studies. He conceptualizes hybridity, third space, in-betweenness, or mimicry to shed light on the cultural interactions in the shade of colonial traces. His theory which draws attention to the impossibility of pure culture is used in this study to discover Shah family’s migrant life. Pakistani descent-American author Ayad Akthar depicts immigrant Muslims’ life in America based primarily on his own multicultural experiences. This study tries to shed light on Shah family’s life in America through multicultural perspectives. The primary aim of this study is to depict how Hayat, the protagonist of the book, constructs his hybrid identity to cope with his dilemmas between two separate cultures at the crossroads of cultures, religions and social norms.

References

  • Ali, Ragab Selim (2015). “Loss of Identity in Ayad Akhtar’s American Dervish.” International Journal of Literature and Arts, 3 (5), pp. 80-87.
  • Ashcroft, Bill, Griffiths, Gareth & Tiffin, Helen. (2014). The Empire Writes Back: Theory and Practice in Post-Colonial Literatures. London & New York: Routledge.
  • Ashcroft, Bill, Griffiths, Gareth & Tiffin, Helen. (2007). Post-Colonial Studies: The Key Concepts. London & New York: Routledge. 2nd Edition
  • Asıf, Saljooq (2015). “Muslim Identity in 21st Century America Ayad Akhtar’s Works as Autobiography”, Elements, 11(1), pp. 9-22.
  • Akhtar, Ayad (2013). American Dervish. New York: Back Bay Books
  • Akhtar, Ayad (2012). “AN. ACT: A Contemporary Theatre. A Conversation Between Playwright Ayad Akhtar and Anita Montgomery”.
  • Bhabha, Homi K. (1994). The location of culture. London: Routledge.
  • Bhabha, Homi K. (1990). Nation and Narration. London & New York: Routledge.
  • Huddart, David. (2010). “Homi K. Bhabha (1949-)”. From Agamben to Zizek Contemporary Critical Theorists. Ed. John Simons. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. pp. 60-76.
  • Gandhi, Leela. (1998). Postcolonial Theory: An Introduction. Sidney: Allen & Unwin.
  • Klages, Mary. (2012). Key Literary Terms in Literary Theory. London: Continuum International Publishing Group.
  • Kuortti, Joel and Nyman, Jopi (2007). “Introduction: Hybridity Today”. Reconstructing Hybridity: Postcolonial Studies in Transition. Eds. Joel Kuortti and Jopi Nyman. Amsterdam-New York: Rodopi B.V. pp. 1-18.
  • Loomba, Ania. (2015). Colonialism/PostColonialism. London & New York: Routledge. 3rd Edition.
  • Nayar, Pramod K. (2015). The Postcolonial Studies Dictionary. Sussex: Wiley Blackwell.
  • Smith, E. Darian. (1996). “PostColonialism: A Brief Introduction”. Social & Legal Studies, 5 (3), pp. 291-299. DOI: 10.1177/096466399600500401
  • Turner, Victor (1969). “Liminality and Communities”. Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure. Chicago: Aldine Publishing.
  • Tyson, Lois (2006). Critical Theory Today: A User Friendly Guide. New York: Routledge.
  • Young, Robert J. C. (2003). Postcolonialism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Young, Robert J.C. (2005) Colonial desire: Hybridity in Theory, Culture and Race. London: Routledge.

Kültürler İçinde ya da Arasında: Amerikan Derviş'te Melezlik Kavramı

Year 2021, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 139 - 148, 30.04.2021
https://doi.org/10.29110/soylemdergi.881481

Abstract

Bu çalışma Amerikan Derviş adlı romanı Homi Bhabha’nın kültürel teorisi ışığında irdelemektedir. Postkolonyal bir kuramcı olarak, sömürge geçmişi de olan Bhabha’nın kültürel çalışmalara önemli katkıları olmuştur. Bhabha, sömürgeciliğin izlerinin gölgesinde kültürel etkileşimlere ışık tutmak için melezlik, üçüncü alan, aradalık ya da taklitçilik gibi kavramları somutlaştırmaktadır. Salt kültürlerin olanaksızlığına dikkat çeken kuramı, bu çalışmada Shah ailesinin göçmen hayatını keşfetmek üzere kullanılmıştır. Pakistan kökenli Amerikalı yazar Ayad Akhtar, aslında kendi çok kültürlü deneyimlerinden yola çıkarak Amerika’daki göçmen Müslüman yaşamı resmetmektedir. Bu çalışmanın temel amacı, kitabın kahramanı olan Hayat’ın kültürler, dinler ve toplumsal kaideler kavşağındaki iki ayrı kültürün arasında ikilemleriyle başa çıkabilmek için nasıl melez bir kimlik oluşturduğunu göstermektir.

References

  • Ali, Ragab Selim (2015). “Loss of Identity in Ayad Akhtar’s American Dervish.” International Journal of Literature and Arts, 3 (5), pp. 80-87.
  • Ashcroft, Bill, Griffiths, Gareth & Tiffin, Helen. (2014). The Empire Writes Back: Theory and Practice in Post-Colonial Literatures. London & New York: Routledge.
  • Ashcroft, Bill, Griffiths, Gareth & Tiffin, Helen. (2007). Post-Colonial Studies: The Key Concepts. London & New York: Routledge. 2nd Edition
  • Asıf, Saljooq (2015). “Muslim Identity in 21st Century America Ayad Akhtar’s Works as Autobiography”, Elements, 11(1), pp. 9-22.
  • Akhtar, Ayad (2013). American Dervish. New York: Back Bay Books
  • Akhtar, Ayad (2012). “AN. ACT: A Contemporary Theatre. A Conversation Between Playwright Ayad Akhtar and Anita Montgomery”.
  • Bhabha, Homi K. (1994). The location of culture. London: Routledge.
  • Bhabha, Homi K. (1990). Nation and Narration. London & New York: Routledge.
  • Huddart, David. (2010). “Homi K. Bhabha (1949-)”. From Agamben to Zizek Contemporary Critical Theorists. Ed. John Simons. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. pp. 60-76.
  • Gandhi, Leela. (1998). Postcolonial Theory: An Introduction. Sidney: Allen & Unwin.
  • Klages, Mary. (2012). Key Literary Terms in Literary Theory. London: Continuum International Publishing Group.
  • Kuortti, Joel and Nyman, Jopi (2007). “Introduction: Hybridity Today”. Reconstructing Hybridity: Postcolonial Studies in Transition. Eds. Joel Kuortti and Jopi Nyman. Amsterdam-New York: Rodopi B.V. pp. 1-18.
  • Loomba, Ania. (2015). Colonialism/PostColonialism. London & New York: Routledge. 3rd Edition.
  • Nayar, Pramod K. (2015). The Postcolonial Studies Dictionary. Sussex: Wiley Blackwell.
  • Smith, E. Darian. (1996). “PostColonialism: A Brief Introduction”. Social & Legal Studies, 5 (3), pp. 291-299. DOI: 10.1177/096466399600500401
  • Turner, Victor (1969). “Liminality and Communities”. Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure. Chicago: Aldine Publishing.
  • Tyson, Lois (2006). Critical Theory Today: A User Friendly Guide. New York: Routledge.
  • Young, Robert J. C. (2003). Postcolonialism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Young, Robert J.C. (2005) Colonial desire: Hybridity in Theory, Culture and Race. London: Routledge.
There are 19 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects North American Language, Literature and Culture
Journal Section EDEBİYAT / ARAŞTIRMA MAKALELERİ
Authors

Tuba Baykara 0000-0002-0570-5283

Ercan Kaçmaz 0000-0001-8304-6482

Publication Date April 30, 2021
Submission Date February 16, 2021
Acceptance Date March 8, 2021
Published in Issue Year 2021 Volume: 6 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Baykara, T., & Kaçmaz, E. (2021). In or Between the Cultures: Hybridity in American Dervish. Söylem Filoloji Dergisi, 6(1), 139-148. https://doi.org/10.29110/soylemdergi.881481