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Summary: Postcolonial Theory Through Personal Experience

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Summary: Postcolonial Theory Through Personal Experience

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Postcolonial theory, as I understand it, is a way to think about the lasting effects of colonization on people, cultures, and countries. I would say postcolonial theory is about asking questions like: What happened to people after colonization? How were their cultures changed or erased? How do those changes still show up in the way people live, speak, or even see themselves?

For me, this theory matters because it gave me new language for things I have felt but did not fully understand, like the pressure to fit in or the feeling of being different in a new culture. As an international student in the United States, I think I am now even more clear about these concepts. I can relate to the struggle of navigating between cultures, and this theory helped me make sense of those personal experiences which is why some of the most important themes that stood out to me were identity, othering, and hybridity. Identity was especially powerful for me because it explores who we are and how that can be shaped or shaken by cultural expectations. Othering helped me understand how people can be treated as outsiders just because they are seen as different. Hybridity made me think about what it means to live between cultures and how that can bring both challenges and new perspectives.

Overall, what I have learned is that postcolonial theory is not just about the past. It helps us better understand the present by showing how power, history, and identity are all connected.

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Reflection: From Nepal to the U.S.: The Challenge and Beauty of Hybridity

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Reflection: From Nepal to the U.S.: The Challenge and Beauty of Hybridity

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Hybridity has been the postcolonial theme that resonated most with me this term. As an international student, I often find myself straddling two cultures, trying to adapt to a new way of life while holding onto my roots. For example, my struggle with language is a clear representation of hybridity. Sometimes, I struggle to find the right words, even in my native Nepali language, and this happens even though I’ve been speaking it for years. But when I try to express myself in English, I often feel like I'm caught between two worlds, unable to fully express what I mean in either language.

Living in a culture where punctuality is emphasized is another way hybridity shows up in my life. Back home, time is more flexible—an event scheduled for 5:00 pm might start an hour later, and that’s perfectly acceptable. But here, in the U.S., people show up early, and everything revolves around strict timelines. This adjustment has been challenging, but over the years, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of being punctual. Still, I often find myself wondering how I’ll feel when I return to Nepal, where time is viewed so differently. Will I be frustrated with the lack of punctuality, or will I need to unlearn the habits I’ve developed here to feel comfortable again?

Another element of hybridity in my life is the cultural shift from collectivism to individualism. Back in Nepal, I was used to being surrounded by family and community, and we always did things together. Here in the U.S., individualism is so ingrained in daily life. People prioritize their own personal space and decisions, which was initially hard for me to understand. But now, after three years, I’ve become accustomed to the independence of this culture, and sometimes I even find myself wondering how I’ll adjust to a community-focused way of life again when I return home.

This experience of living between two cultures, of unlearning and relearning behaviors, has made me feel as though I’m split between two worlds. I find myself struggling to fully belong in either place. In the U.S., no matter how much I try to belong here, a part of me will always be from Nepal, and that piece of me will always miss home. On the other hand, when I think about returning to Nepal, I wonder how I’ll reconnect with the culture and traditions I grew up with. The way I’ve changed over the years, the habits I’ve developed, make it feel as if I’m now caught between two homes, each in completely different parts of the world. It’s a strange feeling of being torn between two places, unsure of where I truly belong.

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Application 1- Exploring Identity in Black Panther

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Application 1- Exploring Identity in Black Panther

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MOVIE: Black Panther (2018)

Theme: Identity

In my opinion, Black Panther is more than a superhero film—it’s a powerful postcolonial story about identity and what it means to belong. The movie follows two central characters, T’Challa and Killmonger, who both struggle with different versions of Black identity shaped by their environments.

T’Challa, raised in Wakanda, inherits pride and tradition from a nation untouched by colonization. His identity crisis is internal: should he protect Wakanda’s secrecy or open it to the world?

Killmonger, on the other hand, is a product of the African diaspora. He grows up in a world that disconnects him from his roots, and his pain runs deep. In my view, he experiences the most intense identity issues. He tries to reclaim his heritage by force, taking the throne and attempting to use Wakanda’s power to fight global oppression. However, he never finds peace with who he is. His final words show that he’d rather die than live disconnected from his people. That pain, to me, represents what happens when colonization erases culture and belonging.

What I found most powerful was how postcolonial theory helps us see that these identity struggles are not just personal—they are historical. In the end, I believe Black Panther offers a hopeful message. T’Challa grows by learning from Killmonger’s pain, choosing to open Wakanda to the world. That decision, to me, shows that identity can be healed—not by forgetting the past, but by facing it and using it to build a better future.

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Application 2- Postcolonial Resistance in Music

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Application 2- Postcolonial Resistance in Music

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Song – Where Is the Love? by The Black Eyed Peas (2003)

Theme: Resistance

To me, Where Is the Love? is more than just a song—it’s a bold act of resistance. Released after 9/11, the lyrics directly question war, racism, hate, and media manipulation. It speaks from the perspective of people who are tired of being hurt by systems that were never built to protect them.

Lines like “Nations dropping bombs” and “Wrong information always shown by the media” don’t just point to injustice—they challenge the powerful narratives that try to normalize it. In my opinion, this song gives voice to those who are often silenced. It doesn’t just ask for peace—it demands accountability.

Postcolonial theory helps us see that these global problems didn’t appear out of nowhere. They’re rooted in histories of colonial domination, where one group controlled land, people, and truth. In that sense, this song becomes a modern protest. It resists the idea that violence and inequality are just the way things are.

What I find inspiring is that resistance here isn’t violent—it’s emotional, artistic, and honest. It reminds me that resistance can look like speaking up, asking questions, and refusing to accept injustice as normal. The song uses music as a platform to push back against the legacy of colonization and the systems that grew out of it.

In the end, I believe Where Is the Love? proves that art can be a powerful form of resistance. It calls on all of us to see the truth, challenge injustice, and imagine a more loving and equal world.

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Black Eyed Peas. (2003). Where is the love? [Song]. On Elephunk. A&M Records. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpYeekQkAdc

Coogler, R. (Director). (2018). Black Panther [Film]. Marvel Studios. https://www.marvel.com/movies/black-panther

EssayScam. (n.d.). Postcolonialism study theory [Image].

EssayScam. https://essayscam.org/images/postcolonialism-study-theory.jpg

San Francisco Chronicle. (n.d.). People walking on college campus [Image]. https://i1.wp.com/s.hdnux.com/photos/14/13/17/3191756/3/ratio3x2_1800.jpg