This topic was also held as a lecture at the international conference "Journeys across B/Orders in Canadian Studies" at Marburg University in June ,2022.
Life of Muslims in Canada has drastically been changed by the events of 9/11 and the Anti-terrorism Act of December 18th, 2001 which created new and static ethnic, cultural and religious borders – both visible and invisible – between Muslim communities and the ROC. It is exactly here where the group of Canadian Muslim writers (writers stemming from Muslim countries but now living and working in Canada) have tried to bring Islam and Muslim existence in the West closer to Canadian society while reflecting on what Larissa Lai calls a "politics and poetics of relation".
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The role of Canadian Muslim writing – a survey
3. Patterns of the representation of the Muslim male
4. Close analysis of chosen novels
Farzana Doctor, Six Metres of Pavement (2011)
Kamal Al-Solaylee, Intolerable . A Memoir of Extremes ( 2012)
Hasan Namir, God in Pink ( 2015)
Ausma Zehanat Khan, The Unquiet Dead ( 2017)
Arif Anwar, The Storm ( 2018)
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this work is to analyze the literary presentation of Muslim male characters within contemporary Canadian literature, exploring how these characters navigate national, cultural, and moral borders to forge new identities after settling in Canada.
- The intersection of post-9/11 sociopolitical conditions and the literary representation of Muslims in Canada.
- Categorization of male Muslim character archetypes (e.g., the bargainer, the challenger, the peacemaker).
- The role of "border crossing" as a metaphor for identity formation, trauma, and the negotiation of belonging.
- Critique of traditional binaries and essentialist views of East versus West through literary analysis.
- The function of Canadian Muslim writing in dismantling stereotypes and presenting the human side of the migrant experience.
Excerpt from the Book
The role of Canadian Muslim writing – a survey
Although contemporary English speaking literature is a commonly and widely used term it is a constantly reflected, discussed and progressive catchphrase which is sometimes difficult to define due to both terms contemporary and literature which imply a dynamic.
Contemporary basically means living, belonging or occuring in the past. So if we talk about contemporary in relation to literature we are discussing and reflecting literature which is being written, analyzed and discussed in the now about the now.
It seems obvious that literature in general does not include literature of certain periods such as the time of the Renaisssance or Romanticism it also includes matters of genre such as the social, the cultural, the political or the religious. Literature also encloses works of fiction and non-fiction such as poetry, drama, essay, contribution to collective work or the novel to mention one of the most influential expressions of literature at all.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter establishes the theoretical framework regarding concepts of borders, borderlands, and their geopolitical and cultural functions, emphasizing their role as sites of struggle and identity formation in Canada.
2. The role of Canadian Muslim writing – a survey: The chapter explores the evolution of "Canadian Muslim Writing" as a subgenre that reflects on migration, identity, and the influence of cultural and moral pressures on Muslim characters in the West.
3. Patterns of the representation of the Muslim male: This section classifies various archetypes of the Muslim male—such as the bargainer, challenger, and peacemaker—to examine their shifting identities and struggles with integration in white mainstream society.
4. Close analysis of chosen novels: A detailed literary examination of five specific novels, analyzing how each protagonist uniquely negotiates border crossings, trauma, and the search for belonging in the Canadian context.
5. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the research findings, reinforcing that border crossings are essential processes for dismantling stereotypes and achieving personal integrity through the re-fashioning of identity.
Keywords
Canadian literature, Muslim identity, border crossing, migration, postcolonialism, identity formation, Muslim male, gender, 9/11 impact, multiculturalism, belonging, diaspora, assimilation, representation, narrative.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic inquiry?
The study primarily investigates how contemporary Canadian Muslim literature presents male characters who navigate physical and mental borders, ultimately challenging stereotypical images of the "Muslim" in Western culture.
Which thematic fields are central to the analysis?
Key fields include post-9/11 discourse, the intersection of political/cultural borders, character identity development, and the negotiation of belonging within an immigrant context.
What is the primary aim regarding the research goal?
The aim is to demonstrate that literature serves as a prism to critically examine these border crossings, moving beyond binary views to highlight the humanity and individual struggles of Muslim characters.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The work utilizes a qualitative approach, combining literary analysis of specific novels with theoretical concepts from border studies, postcolonial discourse, and identity theory.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body surveys the emergence of "Canadian Muslim Writing," defines a typology for Muslim male characters, and performs a close reading of selected works by various authors.
What characteristics define the "bargainer" archetype?
The bargainer is characterized by a strategic attempt to adapt to Western social and democratic structures without explicitly criticizing the host culture, though this often creates an internal struggle for the character.
How does the post-9/11 context influence the selected narratives?
Post-9/11 events significantly shifted the discussion, creating new "mental borders" and a heightened sense of scrutiny, which forced characters to either assimilate or resist in more complex ways.
What role does "Six Metres of Pavement" play in the discussion?
It serves as a key case study highlighting the experiences of characters who are physically successful in Canada but remain caught in their personal historical trauma and emotional border crossings.
- Citation du texte
- Dr. Matthias Dickert (Auteur), 2022, The fruition of the Muslim male. The role and presentation of Muslim life in Canada, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1265781
