Arohi Publications
In postcolonial theory, “the Other” refers to the marginalized group, typically the colonized people, who are constructed as different and inferior by the colonizing power, essentially defining their identity in relation to the “self” of the colonizer, often through stereotypes and negative portrayals, highlighting the power dynamics of colonialism; it signifies the process of being excluded and labeled as different from the dominant culture.
Key points about “the Other” in postcolonial theory:
- Power dynamic:
The concept of “the Other” is inherently linked to power imbalances, where the colonizer actively constructs the colonized as “Other” to justify their dominance and control.
- Essentialization:
Colonizers often essentialize the “Other” by reducing complex cultures and identities to simplistic, stereotypical traits.
- Edward Said’s “Orientalism”:
A prominent example of this concept is Edward Said’s work on “Orientalism,” where he argues that the West created a stereotypical image of the “Orient” (Middle East) to legitimize colonial rule.
- Impact on identity:
Being labeled as “the Other” can have a significant impact on the colonized population’s self-perception and can lead to feelings of alienation and marginalization.
🔍 360° Analysis of “The Other” in Postcolonial Theory
The concept of “The Other” is central to postcolonial theory, influencing ideas on identity, power, and representation. It explores how colonial powers define and dominate non-Western cultures by positioning them as inferior, exotic, or primitive. Let’s break it down from all angles—historical, philosophical, literary, and contemporary relevance.
1️⃣ Origins & Key Thinkers
The idea of “Otherness” has roots in European philosophy, later expanding into postcolonial discourse.
🧠 Philosophical Foundations
| Thinker | Concept |
| G.W.F. Hegel | The Master-Slave Dialectic—power emerges through recognition from an “Other.” |
| Emmanuel Levinas | Ethics and responsibility arise in our relationship with “the Other.” |
| Jacques Lacan | “The Other” shapes our identity and unconscious desires. |
| Michel Foucault | Power creates “Others” by defining norms and deviants. |
🌍 Postcolonial Thinkers
| Thinker | Contribution |
| Frantz Fanon | “Black Skin, White Masks” (1952) – Colonized subjects internalize the colonizer’s gaze. |
| Edward Said | “Orientalism” (1978) – The West constructs the East as “the Other” to dominate it. |
| Homi Bhabha | “The Location of Culture” (1994) – “Otherness” is fluid, leading to hybridity. |
| Gayatri Spivak | “Can the Subaltern Speak?” (1988) – The “Other” is silenced in colonial discourse. |
2️⃣ How “The Other” Works in Colonialism
Colonial powers used discourses to justify domination over non-European societies.
📜 Historical Examples of “Othering”
| Colonial Power | Othered Group | Stereotypes Used |
| British Empire | Indians, Africans | Backward, mystical, childlike |
| French Empire | Algerians, Vietnamese | Uncivilized, violent, incapable of self-rule |
| American Imperialism | Indigenous, Asian, Latin American groups | Barbaric, exotic, primitive |
🔹 Mechanisms of Othering:
✅ Stereotypes → Constructing racial & cultural inferiority
✅ Media & Literature → Depicting the East as “mystical” but “irrational”
✅ Legal Systems → Treating colonized people as second-class subjects
📖 Example:
In Rudyard Kipling’s The White Man’s Burden (1899), the poem justifies colonial rule as a “civilizing mission”, portraying colonized people as helpless Others needing Western guidance.
3️⃣ The “Other” in Literature & Media
Postcolonial writers challenge colonial “Othering” through literature.
📚 Key Literary Works
| Book | Author | How It Deconstructs Othering |
| Things Fall Apart | Chinua Achebe | Shows African society’s complexity before colonization. |
| Wide Sargasso Sea | Jean Rhys | Rewrites Jane Eyre from the perspective of the “Other” (Bertha Mason). |
| The Wretched of the Earth | Frantz Fanon | Explores violence, colonial trauma, and racial Othering. |
| Season of Migration to the North | Tayeb Salih | Reverses Orientalism, showing an African man “Othering” the West. |
🎬 Film & Pop Culture Examples
| Film/Series | How It Uses “Othering” |
| Avatar (2009) | The Na’vi are “Othered” by human colonizers. |
| Black Panther (2018) | Wakanda defies Western stereotypes of Africa. |
| Slumdog Millionaire (2008) | Exoticizes India through Western lenses. |
4️⃣ Contemporary Relevance & Global Politics
“The Other” is still used to justify political, economic, and racial hierarchies.
🌍 21st Century Examples
✅ Refugee Crisis → Migrants portrayed as threats (Syrian, Afghan, and African refugees “Othered” in Europe & the US).
✅ Islamophobia → Post-9/11, Muslims became “the Other” in Western media.
✅ China & US Rivalry → Mutual Othering in global politics (e.g., “Chinese threat” in US media).
✅ Artificial Intelligence & Robots → AI as “the Other” in futuristic debates about human identity.
🔥 Social Movements Fighting Othering
✅ #BlackLivesMatter → Resisting racial “Othering” in the US
✅ Indigenous Rights Movements → Challenging colonial narratives
✅ Intersectional Feminism → Addressing how gender, race & class “Othering” intersect
5️⃣ Conclusion: Overcoming the “Other”
📢 Can the “Other” ever be fully erased?
🔹 Postcolonial theory suggests hybridity (Bhabha) and reclaiming identity (Fanon, Said) as solutions.
🔹 Modern activism challenges “Othering” through representation, resistance, and rewriting narratives.
✅ Final Thought:
“Othering creates division, but understanding it helps dismantle power imbalances in society.
