9/11 novels, post-9/11 novels and Ground Zero Fiction which have a literary closeness of this day suddenly picked up the former colonial concepts of 'Other' and 'Otherness' or 'Center and Periphery' and set them in a context of a shifting, multicultural American population with the task to suddenly re-imagine this 'Other', a task which has hardly been dealt with and if so only on the surface. To do so is a difficult task since this has to be done from a Western perspective and in the light that this 'Other' here is attached to Islam or Muslims.
The literary presentation of the 'Other' as a Muslim remains a painful step since it also has to examine the ways in which knowledge is manipulated by dominant Western and Muslim discourses but it helps to bring in new energy into the postcolonial discourse being shaped by critics such as Said, Spivak or Foucault.
Thus fiction related to 9/11 must not only stay on the level of shock or individual or collective trauma it can also be seen as a starting point for new cultural and critical debates how to deal and write about the terror attacks of that day and how to see the Muslim as the 'Other' in a more objective light.
How this can be done will be one central part of this book which starts with a general remark of Muslim writing before and after 9/11 and a short reflection of different types of novels dealing with it.
A next step lies in the task to critically reflect the presentation of Muslims in 9/11 fiction in the USA and Canada. This will be followed by an analysis of parameters typical for Muslim existence. A closer analysis will then be followed by three novels dealing with matters of 'Otherness', The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007), Cockroach (2008) and Atta (2011). The final step then will be to give an outlook of the matter discussed here.
The choice of the three novels analyzed here followed one basic principle namely that all selected authors are male and dispose of a different cultural and religious background with Islam as the common glue.
[...]
Table of Contents
- Abstract
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Novels dealing with 9/11 – a Survey
- 3. The Influence of 9/11 Novel on Muslim Writing
- 4. The Presentation of the Muslim in the Post-9/11 Novel
- 5. Canadian Muslim Writing – an Introduction
- 6. Notions of Other and Otherness - An Introduction
- 7. Parameters of Otherness
- 8. Forms: Narratological Categories for the Analysis of the Genre
- 8.1. Preface
- 8.2 Islamic Spirituality and Transcendence
- 8.3 Identity Formation as one Central Problem of Islamic Writing
- 8.4 Identity as a Religious Matter
- 8.5 Failure
- 8.6 Powerlessness
- 8.7 The Quest for a Meaning of Life
- 8.8 Hybrid Description and Hybrid Identity under the Focus of Islam and Islamic Fundamentalism
- 9. Selected Novels
- 9.1 Fiction of Memory and its presentation of Otherness in Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007)
- 9.1.1 The Reluctant Fundamentalist as an Example of Fiction of Memory
- 9.1.2 The Reluctant Fundamentalist – An Internal Discussion about the Essence of Religion
- 9.2 The Autobiography as a Radical Form of Otherness in Rawi Hage's Cockroach (2008)
- 9.3 The radical Muslim as the Other in Jarett Kobek's Atta (2011)
- 9.1 Fiction of Memory and its presentation of Otherness in Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007)
- 10. Outlook
Objectives and Key Themes
This book aims to explore the presentation of Muslims as the "Other" in American and Canadian fiction after the 9/11 attacks. It investigates how these novels portray Muslim characters and their experiences in a post-9/11 world. The book examines the influence of 9/11 on Muslim writing and the various forms of "otherness" presented in these narratives.- The impact of 9/11 on Muslim writing and its reflection in contemporary English-language novels
- The portrayal of Muslims as the "Other" in post-9/11 American and Canadian fiction
- Exploring the concept of "otherness" and its application to the portrayal of Muslims in literature
- Analyzing the use of different narrative forms and techniques in depicting Muslim characters and their experiences
- Examining the relationship between identity, religion, and cultural representation in the context of 9/11 and its aftermath
Chapter Summaries
- Chapter 1: Introduction: This chapter provides a general overview of the book's scope and methodology. It introduces the concept of "otherness" and its relevance to the study of post-9/11 fiction. It also discusses the historical context of 9/11 and its impact on the world, including the political, social, and religious ramifications.
- Chapter 2: Novels dealing with 9/11 – a Survey: This chapter examines the emergence of the "9/11 novel" as a new genre. It explores various novels that deal with the events of 9/11, focusing on the portrayal of Muslim characters and the themes of trauma, loss, and identity. This chapter analyzes how 9/11 has been incorporated into contemporary English-language literature.
- Chapter 3: The Influence of 9/11 Novel on Muslim Writing: This chapter focuses on the specific impact of 9/11 on Muslim writing. It explores how Muslim writers have responded to the events of 9/11 and the subsequent rise of Islamophobia. This chapter analyzes the ways in which Muslim writers challenge stereotypes and represent their own cultural experiences through their literary works.
- Chapter 4: The Presentation of the Muslim in the Post-9/11 Novel: This chapter examines the various ways in which Muslims are presented in post-9/11 fiction. It explores the themes of identity formation, religious identity, and the struggle against prejudice and discrimination. This chapter analyzes how these novels portray the complex realities of Muslim life in a post-9/11 world.
- Chapter 5: Canadian Muslim Writing – an Introduction: This chapter provides an introduction to the specific context of Canadian Muslim writing. It examines the unique challenges and opportunities faced by Muslim writers in Canada. This chapter also explores the themes of multiculturalism, immigration, and cultural identity in Canadian Muslim literature.
- Chapter 6: Notions of Other and Otherness - An Introduction: This chapter provides a theoretical framework for understanding the concept of "otherness." It examines various theories of "otherness" and its application to the study of literary representation. This chapter also explores the relationship between "otherness" and identity formation.
- Chapter 7: Parameters of Otherness: This chapter examines the various parameters of "otherness" as they relate to the portrayal of Muslims in post-9/11 fiction. It explores the role of religion, culture, race, and ethnicity in constructing "otherness." This chapter also analyzes how these parameters are used to create stereotypes and prejudices.
- Chapter 8: Forms: Narratological Categories for the Analysis of the Genre: This chapter explores the various narrative forms and techniques used in post-9/11 fiction. It examines the use of different genres, such as the novel, the autobiography, and the memoir. This chapter also analyzes the role of narrative voice, point of view, and style in shaping the reader's understanding of Muslim characters and their experiences.
Keywords
This book focuses on the representation of Muslims as the "Other" in American and Canadian fiction after the 9/11 attacks. It explores the concept of "otherness" and its application to the study of literary representation, particularly in the context of 9/11. Key concepts include post-9/11 literature, Muslim writing, identity formation, religious identity, cultural representation, and narrative techniques.- Citar trabajo
- Dr. Matthias Dickert (Autor), 2017, 9/11 and the Muslim presentation as the "Other" in American and Canadian Fiction, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/379493
