Glossary

Colonialism is a process by which one country takes control over another country or region, often by force, and dominates it politically, economically, and culturally. This control can involve settling the new territory with people from the colonizing country, exploiting the local population and resources, and imposing the colonizer's culture, language, and social systems. Literature from colonized societies can offer insight into both colonial experiences, both from the justification of colonization as well as the resistance, identity struggles, and the trauma of oppression. Understanding colonialism in literature helps us grasp how historical events shape societies and identities, and it provides a critical lens for examining power dynamics and cultural interactions.

Colonization is the process by which a country establishes control over a foreign territory, often involving settlement and exploitation of resources. Local populations often face displacement and exploitation. This process has deep implications for the people and cultures in the colonized regions. 

Contemporary means of a time, so something contemporary today means of this time, like works produced in the current time and reflecting the issues of this time; when something is referred to as contemporary to someone of a past time was of their time.

Culture refers to the collective social, artistic, intellectual, and behavioral expressions and practices that characterize a specific group. Literature can both reflect and shape culture.

Decolonization is the process through which colonies gain independence from their colonial rulers, reclaiming political, economic, and cultural autonomy. It involves undoing the structures and impacts of colonization and restoring indigenous rights and identities. Most decolonization movements took place in the mid-20th century, following World War II, when many African, Asian, and Caribbean countries achieved independence from European powers. In literature, decolonization themes explore the struggles for independence, the challenges of nation-building, and the quest for cultural identity and healing after colonial oppression.

Existential refers to personal or individual existence and how individuals find meaning and purpose. Existentialism explores the human condition, the meaning of life, the inevitability of death.

According to dictionary.com, feminism is defined as an organized movement for the attainment of such rights for women.

Industrialization is a period of social and economic change that transforms a society from primarily agrarian work in rural settings to industrial work in cities. Such a move brings opportunities but also creates complications in terms of workers' rights, environmental impact, and more.

According to Wikipedia editors, literary criticism is the study and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often influenced by literary theory, which is the philosophical analysis of writers' methods.

According to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, magical realism is defined as a literary genre or style associated especially with Latin America that incorporates fantastic or mythical elements into otherwise realistic fiction.

The term "marginalized" refers to individuals or groups that are pushed to the edges of society, where they have limited access to resources, rights, and opportunities. This marginalization can be due to various factors like race, gender, class, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.

According to Wikipedia.org, modernism is defined as an early 20th-century movement in literature, visual arts, and music that emphasized experimentation, abstraction, and subjective experience.

According to Wikipedia, post colonialism is defined as the critical academic study of the cultural, political and economic legacy of colonialism and imperialism, focusing on the impact of human control and exploitation of colonized people and their lands.

Post-industrialization is a phase of economic development that follows the industrial era, characterized by a shift from manufacturing-based economies to service-oriented economies. This transition has significant social, economic, and cultural implications, which are often explored in literature.

Understanding post-industrialization in literature helps readers appreciate how economic and technological changes influence society and individual lives. It provides insights into the human experience in an era where traditional industries are fading, and new forms of work and social structures are emerging.

Power structure refers to the distribution of power within a group of people in terms of who holds authority and how that authority is exercised.

According to the Urban Dictionary, realism is defined as a Form of art or literature where something is "real"; Expressing realistic emotions or actions

In his essay about realism, the girl killed herself after learning about her evil step-father.
The artist's realism came through his work when he used textured canvas to paint a love scene.

According to Dictionary.com, satire is defined as a work of art, literature, or entertainment in which the folly and corruption of human beings, institutions, or social structures are exposed, denounced, or ridiculed:

The skit offended only those who didn’t recognize it as a political satire.

Did you notice that all the novels on her bookshelf were satires? Synonyms: travesty, parody, caricature, burlesque

A social construct is an idea or concept that is created and accepted by the people in a society. It doesn't exist naturally in the world but is an invention of human beings. Social constructs influence how people perceive and interact with each other.

In literature social constructs are explored to reveal how they shape identities, behaviors, and societies. Authors might challenge these constructs, which work to maintain power dynamics within society, or show their impact on individuals and groups.

Social justice is a fair and equitable society in which all individuals and groups have equal access to opportunities, resources, rights, and privileges through efforts to reform legal, economic, educational, and social systems to achieve these goals.

According to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, surrealism is defined as the principles, ideals, or practice of producing fantastic or incongruous imagery or effects in art, literature, film, or theater by means of unnatural or irrational juxtapositions and combinations

Urbanization is the process by which rural areas transform into urban areas, resulting in the growth and expansion of cities. Urbanization can lead to economic growth, but it can also create economic disparities between different urban areas and between urban and rural regions. This process has profound social, economic, and cultural effects, which are often explored in literature.