The York Research Database
- » Research
- » York Research Database
- » Publications
- » Anthropology as cultural translation
Anthropology as cultural translation: Amitav Ghosh's In an Antique Land
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Full text download(s)
In an Antique Land - Cultural Translation - Poco Text
157 KB, PDF document
Author(s)
Department/unit(s)
Publication details
| Journal | Postcolonial Text |
|---|---|
| Date | Published - Jul 2006 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Volume | 2 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-19 |
| Original language | English |
Abstract
This article interprets Amitav Ghosh's generically indeterminate text, In an Antique Land (1992), as a creative exemplar of the New Anthropology pioneered from the early 1980s onwards by such theorists as James Clifford and Mary Louise Pratt. By invoking Talal Asad's identification of similarities between the practices of ethnography and translation, I argue that Ghosh attempts to "translate" the Other in a non-manipulative and dialogic way. Through a close reading of In an Antique Land alongside both "classic" ethnographies and the New Anthropology, I suggest that Ghosh is commendably alert to the historical, social, and regional specificities that have shaped the multifaceted Others he encounters.
Bibliographical note
Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details.
Discover related content
Find related publications, people, projects, datasets and more using interactive charts.