First Impressions of The Dark Child.
In the introduction to The Dark Child, Philippe Thoby-Marcelin addresses the expectation of some readers who approach a book about African life hoping to escape "for a moment from the enervating condition of 'civilized' man," by claiming that they "will be left unappeased." He goes on to argue that despite the presence of animistic beliefs and practices, "the basis of the story is not to be found here" (8).
His point forces me, as a western-minded reader, to consider the expectations I have when beginning to read a story about someone who would traditionally be considered "the other." Especially after reading and discussing the first three chapters, which are filled with the animistic beliefs and practices Thoby-Marcelin refers to, it is too easy to take the repeated stance of the colonizer that this is a group of people who are "less civilized" than the western world.
But what struck me when reading the first two paragraphs of page 8 of Thoby-Marcelin's introduction is how much this expectation of western readers speaks more of our ignorance than it does about the people we are quick to stereotype. The fact that we would consider what Thoby-Marcelin calls "an old civilization" of Guinea to become more civilized with French colonization is beyond presumptuous to the point of ridiculousness.
Obviously Western intervention would seem appropriate (when rightly executed) in helping to alleviate the suffering in countries rife with disease and poverty, but as soon as we qualify our culture or way of life or religion as being somehow better than theirs we have a problem (and not just with the us/them rhetoric.)
Unfortunately, this kind of thinking is prevalent, and not just in relation to the west vs. the rest, but also within countries or societies, in context of urban vs. rural. Some citizens of any larger city of the US often express their ignorance, and feelings of superiority, in relation to more rural or middle America. Camara addresses and directly argues against these kind of assumptions in the excerpt Thoby-Marcelin quotes in the introduction on pg 12. Camara actually provides a succinct and convincing argument for the superiority of rural life over city life.
... But the point I am trying to get to is the same one that Thoby-Marcelin reaches when he says "It is primarily universal man, man unqualified, with whom we are concerned" (8). While reading the first three chapters, it may be easy to identify the particular objects or symbols or actions that are associated with the three main "presences" in the story and in Camara's life- Islam, France, Indigenous Africa- but it is equally important to realize that all three are readily and simultaneously present. This speaks to the universal, and shows that in a modern-ish world man cannot be boiled down or simplified or characterized into one neat box. Man is truly "unqualified."
Having only read the first three chapters at this point, I am not sure where Camara is going to end up as far as reconciling the three "presences." (although I have some idea from his biography). I'm not sure there is necessarily much need for reconciliation, except perhaps where any real contradictions occur. But if the whole world can truly be considered in a post-colonial context (as we briefly touched on in class), then purist-type distinction and labeling seems pointless.
In the introduction to The Dark Child, Philippe Thoby-Marcelin addresses the expectation of some readers who approach a book about African life hoping to escape "for a moment from the enervating condition of 'civilized' man," by claiming that they "will be left unappeased." He goes on to argue that despite the presence of animistic beliefs and practices, "the basis of the story is not to be found here" (8).
His point forces me, as a western-minded reader, to consider the expectations I have when beginning to read a story about someone who would traditionally be considered "the other." Especially after reading and discussing the first three chapters, which are filled with the animistic beliefs and practices Thoby-Marcelin refers to, it is too easy to take the repeated stance of the colonizer that this is a group of people who are "less civilized" than the western world.
But what struck me when reading the first two paragraphs of page 8 of Thoby-Marcelin's introduction is how much this expectation of western readers speaks more of our ignorance than it does about the people we are quick to stereotype. The fact that we would consider what Thoby-Marcelin calls "an old civilization" of Guinea to become more civilized with French colonization is beyond presumptuous to the point of ridiculousness.
Obviously Western intervention would seem appropriate (when rightly executed) in helping to alleviate the suffering in countries rife with disease and poverty, but as soon as we qualify our culture or way of life or religion as being somehow better than theirs we have a problem (and not just with the us/them rhetoric.)
Unfortunately, this kind of thinking is prevalent, and not just in relation to the west vs. the rest, but also within countries or societies, in context of urban vs. rural. Some citizens of any larger city of the US often express their ignorance, and feelings of superiority, in relation to more rural or middle America. Camara addresses and directly argues against these kind of assumptions in the excerpt Thoby-Marcelin quotes in the introduction on pg 12. Camara actually provides a succinct and convincing argument for the superiority of rural life over city life.
... But the point I am trying to get to is the same one that Thoby-Marcelin reaches when he says "It is primarily universal man, man unqualified, with whom we are concerned" (8). While reading the first three chapters, it may be easy to identify the particular objects or symbols or actions that are associated with the three main "presences" in the story and in Camara's life- Islam, France, Indigenous Africa- but it is equally important to realize that all three are readily and simultaneously present. This speaks to the universal, and shows that in a modern-ish world man cannot be boiled down or simplified or characterized into one neat box. Man is truly "unqualified."
Having only read the first three chapters at this point, I am not sure where Camara is going to end up as far as reconciling the three "presences." (although I have some idea from his biography). I'm not sure there is necessarily much need for reconciliation, except perhaps where any real contradictions occur. But if the whole world can truly be considered in a post-colonial context (as we briefly touched on in class), then purist-type distinction and labeling seems pointless.
posted by Kate Merwald at 12:36 AM
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