A postcolonial reading of cultural identity in Gerald Vizenor's Almost Browne

Abstract EN

This paper is a postcolonial reading of cultural identity in Gerald Vizenor's Almost Browne.

It is divided into two parts, theoretical and practical.

The theoretical part contains mainly relevant theories of post-colonialism and partially psychoanalysis.

Hence, it introduces three of Homi Bhabha's concepts of postcolonialism: "hybridity", "cultural difference" and the "in-between" along with Jung's psychoanalytic approach to personality.

The paper applies such post-colonial aspects to Almost Browne, who is the protagonist of Vizenor's story.

The cultural identity of Almost Browne in the story proves uncertain because the Western hegemony predominates over any other post-colonial culture.

Although the western imperial authority upon the subordinate native Indians seems definite and inevitable, the story reveals a possibility of economic advancement in a native culture that might upgrade its subaltern status.