This paper delves into the intriguing trend observed since the inception of the Man Booker Prize in 1969, where nearly half of the winners have hailed from the former colonies, a phenomenon unique among prestigious literary awards. Notably, the trend persisted beyond 2007, with works like "The White Tiger" from India winning in 2008. This study compares the Booker Prize with other literary honours, examining its exceptional public profile and influence.
The primary questions addressed include: Why do novels by citizens of former colonies or minority communities in Britain thrive in the United Kingdom? How can we categorize these works, and do they authentically portray former colonies and multicultural Britain? The paper aims to elucidate the role of 'Commonwealth literature' in the Booker Prize, investigating the meaning of this term and exploring alternative categorizations.
Chapter two provides a concise history of the Man Booker Prize and its remarkable success. Chapter three delves into the definition of 'Commonwealth literature' and explores more precise terms for the novels under consideration. Lastly, Chapter four conducts an analysis to unveil the factors contributing to the prominence of these novels in the Booker Prize. The paper concludes with an overview of key findings, shedding light on the unique relationship between the Booker Prize and literature from the Commonwealth.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 The Success Story of the Man Booker Prize
3 What is ‘Commonwealth Literature’?
4 Why is ‘Commonwealth Literature’ So Popular?
4.1 Nostalgia for Empire
4.2 Exoticism
4.3 Education?
5 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines the significant role of so-called 'Commonwealth literature' within the Man Booker Prize. It investigates how historical legacies, media management, and the construction of an 'alterity industry' contribute to the prominence of postcolonial novels in the United Kingdom, while critically assessing the authenticity of these works and the underlying motivations for their popularity among British readers.
- The historical development and commercial success of the Man Booker Prize.
- Theoretical debates surrounding terms like 'Commonwealth literature' and 'postcolonialism'.
- The influence of imperial nostalgia and the exoticization of the 'Other' in contemporary literature.
- The tension between literature as an educational tool and the risk of reinforcing Western stereotypes.
- The role of the Booker Prize as a barometer for British cultural taste.
Excerpt from the Book
4.2 Exoticism
The most succinct way to account for the popularity of postcolonial literature in Britain might be to say that “exoticism sells” (Huggan 1994: 26). The novels provide their readers with release from their “provincial navel-gazing” (ibid.) and show them not a dreary post-imperial Britain but a world full of adventures.
What the Booker has done is to create an “alterity industry” (Huggan 2001: vii), an industry in which the exotic is singled out and marketed along the lines of its otherness. According to Edward Said, the Orient is one of the “deepest and most recurring images of the Other” (Said 1979: 1), and it “has helped to define Europe (or the West) as its contrasting image” (ibid.: 1-2).
This phenomenon is not limited to the UK alone; works like The English Patient or Nowhere in Africa (Nirgendwo in Afrika) were very successful in Germany as well. The shortlists of the German Book Prize do contain authors from ethnic minorities, such as the Romanian-born Herta Müller. But these authors come nowhere near to achieving the status of Salman Rushdie in Britain.
Of course, novels from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland often feature among the shortlisted and winning books as well. Although these countries can be viewed in a postcolonial context, and although they certainly have identities separate from that of Britain as a whole, their exoticism is obviously more limited than that of India or South Africa.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the prevalence of authors from former colonies in the Booker Prize and outlines the central questions regarding their popularity and definition.
2 The Success Story of the Man Booker Prize: This section provides a history of the award, its corporate sponsorship, and the media-driven process that contributes to its commercial and literary impact.
3 What is ‘Commonwealth Literature’?: This chapter discusses the contestation of literary terminology and applies Edward Said’s Orientalism to the study of postcolonial fiction.
4 Why is ‘Commonwealth Literature’ So Popular?: This chapter analyzes the socio-cultural drivers behind the popularity of postcolonial works, specifically examining imperial nostalgia, the exotic, and the educational expectations of the reader.
5 Conclusion: The final chapter synthesizes the arguments, noting that the Booker Prize reflects the pervasiveness of imperialism and the evolving tastes of contemporary British society.
Keywords
Man Booker Prize, Commonwealth literature, Postcolonialism, Imperialism, Orientalism, Exoticism, Alterity industry, Salman Rushdie, British identity, Literary awards, Cultural hegemony, Multiculturalism, Fiction, Authenticity, Colonialism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper explores the role and popularity of 'Commonwealth literature' (or postcolonial literature) within the context of the Man Booker Prize, specifically analyzing why novels from former colonies frequently win or are shortlisted for this award.
What are the main thematic areas covered?
Key themes include the history of the Booker Prize, the difficulties of defining postcolonial literature, the influence of imperialism on British culture, and the commercial marketing of 'exotic' narratives.
What is the central research question?
The study aims to understand why books written by citizens of former colonies are so successful in the UK, how they are defined, and whether they provide an accurate representation of current multicultural societies.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author utilizes literary theory, particularly focusing on Edward Said’s concept of Orientalism, alongside an analysis of media influence and existing academic criticism on postcolonial literary canons.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body examines the history of the Booker Prize, the challenges in finding an uncontested term for postcolonial fiction, and three distinct reasons for its popularity: nostalgia, exoticism, and educational value.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as the Man Booker Prize, postcolonialism, imperial nostalgia, cultural exoticism, and the 'alterity industry'.
How does the author characterize the role of the 'Booker judges'?
The author suggests that while the judges select the winners, they are not isolated from public pressure; thus, the selected works often mirror broader public expectations and the nation's cultural taste.
What is the significance of the "alterity industry" mentioned in the text?
The author uses this term to describe how the Booker Prize markets specific books based on their perceived 'otherness' or exotic quality to appeal to the British public's interest in their imperial history.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Julia Reuter (Autor:in), 2010, Exploring the Dominance of 'Commonwealth Literature' in the Man Booker Prize. Holding on to a Lost Empire?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1416296
