Erasing the Binary Oppositions (?) : The Position of Women
Characters in Ishmael Reed’s Japanese by Spring

J 2012

Erasing the Binary Oppositions (?) : The Position of Women Characters in Ishmael Reed’s Japanese by Spring

ŠALAMOUN, Jiří

Basic information

Original name

Erasing the Binary Oppositions (?) : The Position of Women Characters in Ishmael Reed’s Japanese by Spring

Authors

ŠALAMOUN, Jiří

Edition

Theory and Practice in English Studies, Masarykova univerzita, 2012, 1805-0859

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Article in a journal

Field of Study

Literature, mass media, audio-visual activities

Country of publisher

Czech Republic

Confidentiality degree

is not subject to a state or trade secret

References:

Digitální knihovna FF MU, URL

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14210/12:00068236

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

Keywords in English

revision of patriarchy and white hegemony; oppressor vs oppressed; binary oppositions; postmodern novel

Abstract

In the original language

Ishmael Reed is known for writing original postmodern works which challenge white hegemony and control. His novels are praised not only for a mere deconstruction of such instances but also for erasure of the binary opposition of the oppressor/oppressed equation. However, although Reed uses his novels to deconstruct said instances of oppression, these attempts have been questioned by some critics who suggest that Reed not only does not deconstruct the opposition of male and female characters but also favours the position of male characters at the expense of female ones. This article then sets out to answer the question whether the position of women in Reed’s latest novel, Japanese by Spring, is in alignment with his intent to deconstruct binary oppositions or not. The article concludes that, while Reed is susceptible to emphasising male roles over female roles in his early fiction, in order to promote deconstruction of white hegemony his latest novel is endowed with powerful female characters and successfully deconstructs said binary oppositions.

Links

MUNI/21/SAL/2010, interní kód MU

Name: Studium recepce subverzivních románů Thomase Kinga a Ishamela Reeda na John F. Kennedy Institute v Berlíně

Investor: Masaryk University

Files attached

THEPES_Vol_V_issue_1_article_1_Salamoun.pdf File version

Cite

ŠALAMOUN, Jiří. Erasing the Binary Oppositions (?) : The Position of Women Characters in Ishmael Reed’s Japanese by Spring. Theory and Practice in English Studies. Masarykova univerzita, 2012, vol. 5, No 1, p. 1-13. ISSN 1805-0859.

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   journal = {Theory and Practice in English Studies},
   title = {Erasing the Binary Oppositions (?) : The Position of Women Characters in Ishmael Reed’s Japanese by Spring},
   url = {http://hdl.handle.net/11222.digilib/129565},
   volume = {5},
   year = {2012}
}

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N2  - Ishmael Reed is known for writing original postmodern works which challenge white hegemony and control. His novels are praised not only for a mere deconstruction of such instances but also for erasure of the binary opposition of the oppressor/oppressed equation. However, although Reed uses his novels to deconstruct said instances of oppression, these attempts have been questioned by some critics who suggest that Reed not only does not deconstruct the opposition of male and female characters but also favours the position of male characters at the expense of female ones. This article then sets out to answer the question whether the position of women in Reed’s latest novel, Japanese by Spring, is in alignment with his intent to deconstruct binary oppositions or not. The article concludes that, while Reed is susceptible to emphasising male roles over female roles in his early fiction, in order to promote deconstruction of white hegemony his latest novel is endowed with powerful female characters and successfully deconstructs said binary oppositions.
ER  -

ŠALAMOUN, Jiří. Erasing the Binary Oppositions (?) : The Position of Women Characters in Ishmael Reed’s Japanese by Spring. \textit{Theory and Practice in English Studies}. Masarykova univerzita, 2012, vol.~5, No~1, p.~1-13. ISSN~1805-0859.

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