Within Jameson’s text, “Rhetoric of Otherness and the ‘National Allegory,'” a persistent theme is conveyed from previous readings. Last week’s reading by Hagel mentioned that of the Master and Slave, regarding self-consciousness, awareness, and power. In the reading from Simone de Beauvoir, the idea of “Other” and “One” was the main subject throughout. Both readings portrayed a negative and less-demeaning connotation to the other “group.” This remains consistent within this week’s reading by the author Aijaz Ahmad. Groups referred to as the First, Second, and Third World seem to be the essence of the topic.
Jameson refers to the First World as being a part of the capitalistic group, while the Second World is classified as socialists (Ahmad, 1987). The problem that is sought to be the main argument, is the distinction of what the Third World qualifies as, and the rules in determining what makes a Third World a Third World. This creates great anger within the writer and flows from significant stamps placed on those in all categories mentioned. Because of this description, Aijaz is in opposition to Jameson and his writing by the lack of inclusion he decides to categorize the world and its literature in.
Later within the text on page 79, it states, “, if the motivating force of history here is neither class formation and class struggle nor the multiplicities of intersecting conflicts based upon class, gender, nation, race, region, and so on,” (Ahmad, 1987). The thesis of discriminating connotations occurs here with the mention of many less-demeaning labels. Going along with the same topic, Jameson believed that unity would emerge from that of a homologous world of liberals and humanistic universalisms. This is a puzzling thought given that Jameson was a Marxist. A Marxist can be understood by the practicing and wishing of overturning the practice of capitalism.
Following this section of the reading, the Third World is exposed to us, as the reader, that this world entails that of an “experience” in relation to that of the other two worlds. Meaning that a narrative, created by those living within the Third World, can be categorized within the “Third World Literature,” (Ahmad, 1987). This references to the ‘national allegory’ and its texts that may be incorporated within it.
Citation:
Ahmad, Aijaz. Jameson’s Rhetoric of Otherness and the ‘National Allegory’. 1987, osu.instructure.com/courses/106813/files/33418701/download?wrap=1.
I think you did a great job on this. You helped me to see this from a different perspective and I really understand Ahmads writing better. A line that interested me was when you wrote “the Third World is exposed to us, as the reader, that this world entails that of an “experience” in relation to that of the other two worlds.” This stuck out to me and really showed me what the point of this paper was. Overall you did a good job and I enjoyed reading this.
This presentation really helped me to better understand the text and allowed me to see things I didn’t when reading it the first time. I agree with you that a reoccurring theme throughout the text is defining a Third World. I also was just as puzzled when Jameson who describes himself as a Marxist wished to overturn the practice of capitalism.
Hello, your post actually made me learn things that I missed when I read the reading. One of those things being that the second world is classified as socialists. I think I was so focused on the third world that was being neglected and discriminated against that I didn’t even think about the second world. The text went in and on about how one world is the a part of the change in the world while the other Iis just watching it all go by, so would the second be somewhere in the middle? I also thought it was interesting that Jameson wanted unity while trying to differentiate between each world from the one before, as well how he was a Marxist. Overall great post!
Hi Smith,
I think you did a good job to analyze Jameson’s perspectives and his view’s fallacy. His insistence on the relation of otherness to the Third World can be seen from your presentation and he insisted that the Third World writer allegorized their literature work consciously. Thank you for you pointing it out.
Great job analyzing the reading. Your post is a great resource for our class and it helped me further understand the reading.
Your presentation was very wonderful, which helped me understand Jameson’s view that the first world is part of the capitalist group, while the second world is classified as socialist. As a Marxist, Jameson’s claim that he wished to overturn the practice of capitalism in order to achieve the Third World is puzzling. Your interpretation makes me understand the author Aijaz’s intention of writing. Overall, good description.