Social Construction of the Past: Representation as Power (One World Archaeology)

Social Construction of the Past examines how mainstream scholarship constructs the past and, in creating a people's cultural history, appropriates it and turns it into a form of domination by one group over another. Acknowledgements of the intellectual and scholarly contribution of subjugated peoples such as women, minorities, and workers has led to a critical review of the established bodies of knowledge. Social Construction of the Past looks at the way 'postcolonial' scholars redefine the nature of scholarship, and themselves, in order to develop a more egalitarian discourse. It probes the nature of the relationship of labour, race and gender to power and class. The chapters cover a broad range of topics, from the role of intellectuals in restructuring a non-apartheid South Africa, to Haitian working-class women using sexuality to resist domination. Social Construction of the Past is essential reading for academics and students from a whole range of different social and intellectual backgrounds, including anthropology, archaeology, history, comparative literature, political science and sociology. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of Contributors Foreword Preface Introduction Subaltern and ‘Postcolonial Discourse’ Relations of Inequality Alternative Constructions Subjugated Knowledge Liberating the Past: Invention and Appropriation Essentialism and the Poetics of Meaning Insurrections, Re-Evaluations and the ‘Western’ Focus Notes References Part 1: The Representation of Ethnicity Chapter 1: Ethnicity and Representation References Chapter 2: Racial Representations and Power in the Dependent Development of the United States South Illegitimate Anthropology and Hegemony The Farmers' Alliance and Postreconstruction Dependent Development The Black Patch War and the Power of Racial Representations The Social Construction of the Past Notes Acknowledgements References Chapter 3: Sexual Politics and the Mediation of Class, Gender and Race in Former Slave Plantation Societies: The Case of Haiti Women's Empowerment in Haiti as Counter-Power Haitian Sex/Gender System and Practices of Sexual Politics Gender Division of Labour as Legacy of Plantation System Social Relations and Mediation of Sexuality Conclusion Glossary Notes References Chapter 4: Representation and Power: Blacks in Colombia Iberian Social Structures Discrimination and the Ideology of Blanqueamiento Race Mixture and the Ideology of Lo Mestizo Lo Mestizo, Blanqueamiento and the Black Minority Conclusion Notes References Chapter 5: From Eden to Limbo: The Construction of Indigenism in Brazil The Good, The Bad and the Dead The Edenic Discourse Innocence Found Nativism and Nationalism From Chateaubriand to Sting The Civilizing Discourse Innocence Lost Olivegreen Garb and Drab Redtape Out of Eden and Back Again Notes Acknowledgements References Chapter 6: Literacy and Power in Colonial Latin America Alphabetic Literacy Form: Orality, Literacy, Practice Contents: Legal Documents and Social Transformation Printing and the Transformation of Visual Images Conclusion Notes Acknowledgements References Part 2: The Social Construction of Antiquity Chapter 7: The Construction of Antiquity and the Egalitarian Principle: Social Constructions of the Past in the Present Note References Chapter 8: The Image of Ancient Greece as a Tool for Colonialism and European Hegemony Two Models for the Origins of Ancient Greece Models of Greek History and Anthropology Note References Chapter 9: The Politics of Identity in Archaeology Identity and Categories of the Person Archaeology and Nationalism Archaeologists and Development Archaeology and the Postmodern Conclusion Acknowledgements References Chapter 10: Gender Division of Labour in the Construction of Archaeological Knowledge in the United States A Non-Discovery Model of Knowledge, or Knowledge as Creative Construction The Role of Gender in the Construction of Archaeological Knowledge Lithic Studies Palaeoethnobotany Palaeozoology Interpretation of Gender as a Social Construct in Research Acknowledgements References Chapter 11: Interpreting Silences: Symbol and History in the Case of Ram Janmabhoomi/Babri Masjid The Controversy Interpreting Silences Symbol and History in the Case of Ram Janmabhoomi/Babri Masjid Symbols at Ram Janmabhoomi/Babri Masjid Making Historical 'Facts' Notes Acknowledgements References Part 3: The Scholarship of Inequality: The South African Case Chapter 12: Lifting the Veil of Popular History: Archaeology and Politics in Urban Cape Town Textual Archaeology Cape Town in the Early Nineteenth Century Texts of Domination and Opposition Architecture and Art Historical Texts in Present Settings Conclusion Notes References Chapter 13: Struggling with Tradition in South Africa: The Multivocality of Images of the Past Representing Africans as Traditional Traditionality and the Land Traditionality in the Tourist Industry Using Tradition as a Resource in Gender Struggles Conclusion: South Africa, Anthropologists and Tradition Notes References Chapter 14: Intellectuals in South Africa and the Reconstructive Agenda The Notion of Intellectuals Intellectuals and the Political Struggle The Production of Knowledge Intellectuals and the 'Powers' Intellectuals and Social Transformation Conclusion Notes References Index Social Construction Of The Past Examines Labour, Race And Gender And Its Relationship To Power And Class. It Includes Chapters On A Broad Range Of Topics, From The Role Of Intellectuals In Restructuring A Non-apartheid South Africa, To Haitian Working-class Women Using Sexuality To Resist Domination. It Should Be Essential Reading For Academics And Students From A Whole Range Of Different Social And Intellectual Backgrounds, Including Anthropology, Archaeology, History, Comparative Literature, Political Science And Sociology. Ethnicity And Representation / Leith Mullings -- Racial Representation And Power In The Dependent Development Of The United States South / Pem Davidson Buck -- Sexual Politics And The Mediation Of Class, Gender And Race In Former Slave Plantation Societies / Carolle Charles -- Representation And Power / Peter Wade -- From Eden To Limbo / Alcida Ramos -- Literacy And Power In Colonial Latin America / Joanne Rappaport, Thomas B.f. Cummins -- The Construction Of Antiquity And The Egalitarian Principle / William A. Shack -- The Image Of Ancient Greece As A Tool For Colonialism And European Hegemony / Martin Bernal -- The Politics Of Identity In Archaeology / Michael Rowlands -- Gender Division Of Labour In The Construction Of Archaeological Knowledge In The United States / Joan M. Gero -- Interpreting Silences / Nandini Rao -- Lifting The Veil Of Popular History / Martin Hall -- Struggling With Tradition In South Africa / Andrew D. Spiegel -- Intellectuals In South Africa And The Reconstructive Agenda / Mala Singh. Edited By George Clement Bond, Angela Gilliam. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. First published in 1994. Anthropological and archaeological enquiry are shaped by the historical times in which they are formulated. This collection of essays examines how mainstream scholarship constructs the past - in the case of anthropologists, usually the past of other peoples. By creating another people's cultural history, scholars appropriate it and turn it into a form of domination by one group over another. Mainstream scholarship has often failed to recognize the intellectual and scholarly contribution of subjugated peoples. This volume looks at the way'postcolonial'scholars are redefining the nature of scholarship, and themselves, in order to develop a more egalitarian discourse. Social Constructions of the Past examines labour, race and gender and its relationship to power and class. It includes essays on a broad range of topics, from the role of intellectuals in restructuring a non-apartheid South Africa, to Haitian working-class women using sexuality to resist domination. Anthropological and archaeological enquiry are shaped by the historical times in which they are formulated. This collection of essays examines how mainstream scholarship constructs the past - in the case of anthropologists, usually the past of other peoples. By creating another people's cultural history, scholars appropriate it and turn it into a form of domination by one group over another. Mainstream scholarship has often failed to recognize the intellectual and scholarly contribution of subjugated peoples. This volume looks at the way 'postcolonial' scholars are redefining the nature of scholarship, and themselves, in order to develop a more egalitarian discourse. Social Constructions of the Past examines labour, race and gender and its relationship to power and class. It includes essays on a broad range of topics, from the role of intellectuals in restructuring a non-apartheid South Africa, to Haitian working-class women using sexuality to resist domination This volume looks at the way 'postcolonial' scholars are redefining the nature of scholarship and themselves, in order to develop a more egalitarian discourse. This book examines labour and gender and its relationship to power and class Examines how mainstream scholarship constructs the past. By creating another people's cultural history, scholars appropriate it. This collection of essays looks at how 'post-colonial' scholars are redefining the nature of scholarship. First published in 1994. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.