"Godzilla vs. Post-Colonial" by Thomas King- CORE VIII CANADIAN STUDIES

 "Godzilla vs. Post-Colonial" by Thomas King

I. Introduction and Personal Anecdote

Thomas King begins with a personal story about his experience playing basketball in high school. Despite being tall, he was not a good player, which taught him an important lesson about assumptions.

II. Critique of the Term "Post-Colonial"

King criticizes the use of the term "post-colonial" in relation to Native literature:

1. Problematic Assumptions:

- The term assumes European arrival as the starting point for discussion.

- It suggests progress and improvement in literature.

- It implies that the struggle between colonizer and colonized is the catalyst for contemporary Native literature.

2. Disconnect from Traditions:

- "Post-colonial" cuts Native writers off from their pre-colonial traditions.

- It suggests that contemporary Native writing is largely a construct of oppression.

III. Alternative Terms for Native Literature

King proposes alternative terms to describe Native literature:

1. Tribal: Literature existing primarily within a tribe or community, often in a Native language.

2. Interfusional: A blending of oral and written literature, exemplified by Harry Robinson's work.

3. Polemical: Literature addressing the clash between Native and non-Native cultures.

4. Associational: Contemporary Native writing focusing on daily activities and community life.

IV. Examples of Associational Literature

King discusses two examples of associational literature:

1. "Indian School Days" by Basil H. Johnston

2. "Honour the Sun" by Ruby Slipperjack

These works provide limited access to Native worlds without pandering to non-Native expectations or making easy judgments.

V. Advantages of the Proposed Terms

- They avoid establishing a chronological order or literary frontiers.

- They don't depend on European arrival for their meaning.

- They avoid a nationalistic center.

VI. Limitations and Conclusion

King acknowledges that his proposed terms may not encompass all Native writing, citing works by Gerald Vizenor and Craig Kee Strete as examples. He concludes by rejecting "post-colonial" as an imperialistic term that forces Native writers to imagine themselves as something they did not choose to be.

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"Godzilla vs. Post-Colonial" by Thomas King – detailed summary

Paragraph 1-3: Thomas King begins with a personal anecdote about his youth in Northern California. He describes growing to his full height quickly, by his first year of high school. The basketball coach, noticing King's height, assumed he would be a natural player and encouraged him to join the team. This assumption, shared by both the coach and King himself, proved to be incorrect.

Paragraph 4-5: King reveals that despite his height, he was not even a mediocre basketball player. He humorously describes his inability to run and bounce a ball simultaneously. This experience taught King an important lesson about the danger of assumptions.

Paragraph 6-8: King transitions from his personal story to the main topic: post-colonial literature. He acknowledges that he's not a literary theorist, but his basketball experience has taught him about assumptions. He argues that the term "post-colonial" makes certain assumptions about Native literature that he finds problematic.

Paragraph 9-11: King breaks down the terminology of "pre-colonial," "colonial," and "post-colonial" literature. He points out that these terms suggest a progression that doesn't accurately reflect the reality of Native literature. He argues that pre-colonial and post-colonial literature have no inherent relationship, unlike the natural progression of pre-pubescence to post-pubescence.

Paragraph 12-14: King criticizes the ethnocentrism implicit in the term "post-colonial." He argues that it assumes European arrival as the starting point for discussion of Native literature. It also suggests progress and improvement, implying that the struggle between colonizer and colonized is the primary catalyst for contemporary Native writing.

Paragraph 15-17: King expresses his unwillingness to accept these assumptions. He acknowledges a friend's argument that post-colonial is a useful term for literature reacting to colonization, but remains skeptical that such a term could describe a non-centered, non-nationalistic method.

Paragraph 18-20: King proposes alternative terms to describe Native literature: tribal, interfusional, polemical, and associational. He prefers these terms because they don't privilege one culture over another, avoid the notion of progress from primitive to sophisticated, and identify points on a cultural and literary continuum that don't depend on European arrival.

Paragraph 21-23: King defines "tribal" literature as that which exists primarily within a tribe or community, often in a Native language. He defines "polemical" literature as that which addresses the clash between Native and non-Native cultures or champions Native values.

Paragraph 24-28: King explains "interfusional" literature as a blending of oral and written literature. He uses Harry Robinson's "Write It on Your Heart" as an example, describing how Robinson creates an oral voice within written English.

Paragraph 29-32: King defines "associational" literature as contemporary Native writing that focuses on daily activities and community life. He lists several attributes of this type of literature, including its focus on community over individual heroes and its avoidance of judgment and conclusions.

Paragraph 33-38: King provides two examples of associational literature: Basil H. Johnston's "Indian School Days" and Ruby Slipperjack's "Honour the Sun." He describes how these works provide limited access to Native worlds without pandering to non-Native expectations or making easy judgments.

Paragraph 39-41: King acknowledges that his proposed terms may not encompass all Native writing, citing works by Gerald Vizenor and Craig Kee Strete as examples. He concludes by rejecting "post-colonial" as an imperialistic term that forces Native writers to imagine themselves as something they did not choose to be.

Short Questions and Answers**

1. **What personal anecdote does Thomas King begin with?**  

   King shares a story about playing basketball in high school, where assumptions were made based on his height.

2. **Why does King criticize the term "post-colonial"?**  

   He believes it assumes European arrival as the starting point for Native literature and suggests a false sense of progress.

3. **What does King suggest about "post-colonial" and Native writers?**  

   He argues that "post-colonial" cuts Native writers off from their pre-colonial traditions.

4. **What is "tribal" literature according to King?**  

   Literature that exists within a tribe or community, often in a Native language.

5. **What is "interfusional" literature?**  

   A blend of oral and written literature, exemplified by Harry Robinson's works.

6. **What is "polemical" literature?**  

   Literature that addresses the clash between Native and non-Native cultures.

7. **What is "associational" literature?**  

   Contemporary Native writing focusing on daily activities and community life.

8. **Which two works of associational literature does King discuss?**  

   "Indian School Days" by Basil H. Johnston and "Honour the Sun" by Ruby Slipperjack.

9. **Why does King reject the term "post-colonial"?**  

   He considers it an imperialistic term that forces Native writers to see themselves as defined by colonization.

10. **How does King describe the limitations of his proposed terms?**  

   He acknowledges that they may not encompass all Native writing, as seen in works by Gerald Vizenor and Craig Kee Strete.

Paragraph Questions and Answers**

1. **Describe Thomas King's personal anecdote and its connection to his argument.**  

   In the essay's introduction, King recalls his high school basketball experience. Despite being tall, his lack of basketball skills contradicted the assumption that he would naturally excel at the sport. This personal anecdote illustrates the danger of assumptions, serving as a metaphor for how the term "post-colonial" makes incorrect assumptions about Native literature.

2. **Why does King find the term "post-colonial" problematic in discussing Native literature?**  

   King argues that "post-colonial" literature presumes European arrival as a central point, which diminishes Native literary traditions that existed before colonization. He also critiques the term for implying that Native writing is primarily a response to colonization, which overlooks the complexities of Native storytelling and cultural expression that are independent of colonial histories.

3. **What alternatives does Thomas King propose to the term "post-colonial"?**  

   King suggests four alternative terms: tribal, interfusional, polemical, and associational. These terms focus on different aspects of Native literature, such as tribal traditions, oral storytelling combined with written forms, the clash between cultures, and the depiction of everyday life. These alternatives, King argues, avoid the Eurocentric biases of "post-colonial" while respecting Native traditions and community life.

4. **Explain the concept of "interfusional" literature and provide an example.**  

   "Interfusional" literature combines oral and written traditions, blending the spoken word's fluidity with the permanence of written text. King cites Harry Robinson’s "Write It on Your Heart" as an example of this genre, where Robinson creates an oral voice in written English, allowing the stories to retain the cadence and structure of Native oral traditions.

5. **How does King conclude his critique of "post-colonial" and what are his concerns about its usage?**  

   King concludes by rejecting "post-colonial" as an imperialistic term that forces Native writers to imagine themselves as products of colonization. He is concerned that the term limits Native literature to a reaction against colonization, rather than allowing it to stand on its own as a continuation of long-standing cultural traditions. He argues that this imposes an identity on Native writers that they did not choose.

Essay Question and Answer**

Discuss Thomas King's critique of the term "post-colonial" and his proposed alternatives for Native literature.**

  **Introduction**

In "Godzilla vs. Post-Colonial," Thomas King offers a sharp critique of the term "post-colonial" as it applies to Native literature. He argues that this label places Native writing within a framework that begins with European colonization, thus limiting its scope and marginalizing its pre-colonial roots. To counter this, King proposes a set of alternative terms that reflect the richness and diversity of Native literary traditions.

  **Critique of "Post-Colonial"**

King believes that the term "post-colonial" is problematic for several reasons. First, it assumes European arrival as the starting point for Native literary discussion, thereby disregarding the rich oral and written traditions that existed long before colonization. Furthermore, the term implies that Native literature is primarily shaped by the struggle between colonizer and colonized, which King views as an oversimplification.

  **Disconnect from Tradition**

King argues that the term "post-colonial" cuts Native writers off from their pre-colonial cultural traditions. By framing Native literature as a response to colonization, the term suggests that contemporary Native writing is a construct of oppression rather than a continuation of cultural practices. This undermines the value and significance of Native storytelling that predates European arrival.

  **Alternative Terms for Native Literature**

To address these concerns, King proposes four alternative terms: tribal, interfusional, polemical, and associational. These terms offer a more nuanced way to describe Native literature without depending on colonial narratives.

- **Tribal** literature is rooted in specific communities and often written in Native languages.

- **Interfusional** literature blends oral storytelling with written traditions.

- **Polemical** literature addresses the conflicts between Native and non-Native cultures.

- **Associational** literature focuses on daily activities within Native communities and avoids grand narratives or heroic individualism.

  **Advantages of the New Terminology**

King asserts that these terms avoid the chronological framework imposed by "post-colonial" and don't rely on European arrival to make sense. They also respect the non-nationalistic and non-linear nature of Native literary traditions. By using these terms, King believes Native literature can be appreciated for its cultural continuity rather than its response to colonization.

  **Conclusion**

Thomas King's critique of "post-colonial" highlights the limitations of using European-centered frameworks to understand Native literature. His proposed alternatives—tribal, interfusional, polemical, and associational—offer a more inclusive and culturally relevant way to describe Native storytelling. By rejecting "post-colonial," King encourages a broader, more accurate understanding of Native literary traditions.