Recovering the Voice of Subalterns
Option 1: To what degree can we recover the voices of empires’ subalterns?
Is it possible to recover the voices of the Subaltern; a non elite person or group, especially in colonial societies (OU, Block 3&4 glossary, 2009, p.354) when these people were largely illiterate and the primary reason we hear from them at all is when they find themselves in circumstances which automatically make us question whether a true interpretation of their experiences can be found. The sources available to us such as autobiographies, court records, art and many more are useful in gaining a perspective of what life could have been like for the subaltern and yet with each source we must consider how much of the subalterns true voice is heard and how much the colonial circumstance has interfered with its credibility. To answer this question we will look at three different groups of subalterns; African slaves, Eastern prostitutes in Singapore and Kenyan natives.
Lacking the opportunity and the means to do so we have few sources from your typical slave other than slave autobiographies such as those by Olaudah Equiano or William Grimes, which although useful in examining the individuals experience, they aren’t necessarily typical. To be in a position where he has the contacts and ability to be published he is already an exceptional case. (Unit 12, 2009, p.180) A man who has managed to achieve his freedom and become accustomed to a ‘white’ way of living which cannot help to have influenced his views means we must hesitate before comparing his lot too closely to that of the typical field slave. (Unit 12, 2009, p.182) While we may come closer to the truth by focusing on the passages which detail his own time as a field slave we must also bear in mind that the horrors of what life was like for slaves was laid on thick as this text was used partly as propaganda in the abolition movement. (Unit 12, 2009, p.185) This extract is typical of the content of these texts. ‘After he had
Is it possible to recover the voices of the Subaltern; a non elite person or group, especially in colonial societies (OU, Block 3&4 glossary, 2009, p.354) when these people were largely illiterate and the primary reason we hear from them at all is when they find themselves in circumstances which automatically make us question whether a true interpretation of their experiences can be found. The sources available to us such as autobiographies, court records, art and many more are useful in gaining a perspective of what life could have been like for the subaltern and yet with each source we must consider how much of the subalterns true voice is heard and how much the colonial circumstance has interfered with its credibility. To answer this question we will look at three different groups of subalterns; African slaves, Eastern prostitutes in Singapore and Kenyan natives.
Lacking the opportunity and the means to do so we have few sources from your typical slave other than slave autobiographies such as those by Olaudah Equiano or William Grimes, which although useful in examining the individuals experience, they aren’t necessarily typical. To be in a position where he has the contacts and ability to be published he is already an exceptional case. (Unit 12, 2009, p.180) A man who has managed to achieve his freedom and become accustomed to a ‘white’ way of living which cannot help to have influenced his views means we must hesitate before comparing his lot too closely to that of the typical field slave. (Unit 12, 2009, p.182) While we may come closer to the truth by focusing on the passages which detail his own time as a field slave we must also bear in mind that the horrors of what life was like for slaves was laid on thick as this text was used partly as propaganda in the abolition movement. (Unit 12, 2009, p.185) This extract is typical of the content of these texts. ‘After he had
Bibliography: King, P. (2009). Reconstructing the Slave Experience in the British Empire 1700-1815. (Unit 12) In: The Open University Block 4 How Were Empires Experienced?. Milton Keynes: Bell & Bain Ltd. pp.161 - 193. Hack, K. (2009). Sex and Empire. (Unit 15) In: The Open University Block 4 How Were Empires Experienced?. Milton Keynes: Bell & Bain Ltd. pp.271 - 310. Mackie, R. (2009). Two Settler Societies: New Zealand and Algeria. (Unit 13) In: The Open University Block 4 How Were Empires Experienced?. Milton Keynes: Bell & Bain Ltd. pp.194 - 231. Hughes, L. (2009). Land and Environment in Kenya. (Unit 16) In: The Open University Block 4 How Were Empires Experienced?. Milton Keynes: Bell & Bain Ltd. pp.311 – 344. The Open University, (2009) Glossary In: In: The Open University A326 Empire 1492 – 1975 Block 3 How do Empires Work and Block 4 How Were Empires Experienced?. Milton Keynes: Bell & Bain Ltd. p.354. Kenyatta, J., (1938) Facing Mount Kenya, London, Secker and Warburg, pp. 41–4. (Primary Source 16.2) Hughes, L., (1997) Lotte Hughes and David Ole Kenana; edited (with notes) by Lotte Hughes. (Primary Source 16.6) Kenya Land Commission (1934) ‘Evidence taken at a Baraza held at Nyeri’,