Transculturalism as Conveyed in Kiran Desais The Inheritance of Loss

Selma Valeska Adriana(1*), Ira Rasikawati(2),

(1) Universitas Krida Wacana, Jakarta
(2) Universitas Krida Wacana, Jakarta
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract


This study presents an analysis of cultural values and the idea of transculturalism as conveyed in The Inheritance of Loss, a novel written by Kiran Desai. The novel portrays the euphoria of globalization and the cultural issues faced by Indian immigrants in the West. Through her main characters Jemubhai, Biju, and Sai Desai implies her idea of transculturalism. The characters journey through the post-colonial era in different cultural settings offers insights into how the characters negotiate the differences between cultures and contexts. This study critically analyzed the characters attitudes from the hybridity theory perspective to unravel the authors voice about transculturalism. The three analysis stages performed were to determine key story elements associated to the transcultural theme, to classify the evidence supporting the theme emerged, and to interpret the findings using the new historicism approach and in view of the hybridity theory. In response to the two questions raised on what cultural values inferred from the characters view and what idea of transculturalism conveyed through the authors voice, this study found that the characters offered differing perspectives on cultural permeation and blending. The author suggested the consequences of resistance to cultural diversity.

Keywords: transculturalism, hybridity, post-colonialism


Keywords


transculturalism; hybridity; post-colonialism

Full Text:

PDF

References


Andersson, J. Of Ambivalence, Anxiety and Acceptance A Postcolonial Reading of Kiran Desais The Inheritance of Loss (Masters Thesis). Gothenburg: University of Gothenburg, 2014.

Bennett, A., & Royle, N. An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory. New York, NY: Routledge, 2016.

Bala, S., & Kumar, G. Conflicting Claims and Multicultural Ethos in Kiran Desai's The Inheritance of Loss. Journal of Literature, Culture & Media Studies, 9 & 10. 2013. pp. 79-87.

Bhabha, H.K. The Location of Culture. London: Routledge, 1994.

Burney, S. CHAPTER TWO: Edward Said and Postcolonial Theory: Disjunctured Identities and the Subaltern Voice. Counterpoints, 417. 2012. pp. 41-60.

Chandramani., & Reddy, G.B.K. Kiran Desais The Inheritance of Loss: Elements of American Dream and Globalization. IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science, 11(2). 2013. pp. 79-81.

Desai, K. The Inheritance of Loss. Canada: Penguin Group, 2006.

De Salazar, A. A-G. Envisaging Transcultural Realities through Literature in Europe. The Case of Ireland. In Tamcke, M., de Jong, J., Klein, L., & van der Waal, M. (eds), Europe Space for Transcultural Existence?, 2013. pp, 185-194.

Golla, K.K (2016). Facing the Postcolonial Dilemmas: A Study of Kiran Desais Novel The Inheritance of Loss. International Research Journal of Management Sociology & Humanity, 7(1). 2016. pp. 84-92.

Hewitt, K. Understanding Britain Today, 2009.

Hochschild, J., & Weaver, V. The Skin Color Paradox and the American Racial Order. Social Forces, 86(2). 2007, pp. 1-28. (https:

Jaidka, M. India is my country but the world is my home: Transculturality through literature. Paper presented at the Conference on Applied Interculturality Research.

(http://www.parncutt. org/cAIR10/text/ procs/Jaidka_cAIR10.pdf)

Kim, B. S. K., & Omizo, M. M. (2005). Asian and European American Cultural Values, Collective Self-Esteem, Acculturative Stress, Cognitive Flexibility, and General Self-Efficacy Among Asian American College Students." Journal of Counseling Psychology. 52(3). 2005. pp. 412-419. doi: 10.1037/0022-0167.52.3.412

Kohls, L.R. Values Americans Live By. 1984.

(http://www.bu.edu/isso/files/pdf/AmericanValues.pdf)

Merriam, S.B. Qualitative Research, A Guide to Design and Implementation. San Fransisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2009.

(Retrieved from https://leseprobe.buch. de/images-adb/f2/46/f2465cf6-b1d1-4d13-829d-e5c985f6ee5c.pdf)

Sari. Acculturation and Assimilation in Cultural Diversity. 2017.

(http://www.flat-uinjkt. web.id/accultur ation-and-assimilation-in-cultural-diversity/)

Spielman, D.W. Solid Knowledge and Contradictions in Kiran Desais The Inheritance of Loss. Critique, 51,2010. pp. 74-89.

doi: 10.1080/00111610903249872

Trompenaars, T. & Hampden-Turner, C. (1998). Riding The Waves of Culture. London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing.

UNESCO. Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue. 2009.

(http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images /0018/001847/184755e.pdf)

Vadekar, D.D. The Indian Traditional Values & Their Indications for Education in India in the Modern Age of Science & Technology. Indian Philosophical Quarterly, 29(1&2), 2002. pp. 117-132.

(http://unipune.ac.in/ snc/cssh/ipq/english/IPQ/26-30%20 volumes/29-2&3/PDF/29-2&3-1.pdf)

Welsch, W. Transculturality - the Puzzling Form of Cultures Today. 2009.

(http://www2.uni-jena.de/welsch/ Papers/transcultSociety.html)

Young, R.J.C. Colonial Desire: Hybridity in Theory, Culture and Race. London: Routledge, 2005.

(http://robertjcyoung.com/CDContents. pdf)




DOI: https://doi.org/10.24071/joll.v18i1.1056

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.




Journal of Language and Literature (JOLL) is published by  Prodi Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma.

JOLL is indexed in:

       


This journal is is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License 

View My Stats