Imag(in)ing Decolonial Ecology: Exploring Tropical Eco-Graphic Narratives

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25120/etropic.22.1.2023.3975

Keywords:

decolonial, eco-graphic narrative, graphic novel, ecocriticism, tropical ecology, tropicality, multimodality

Abstract

Decoloniality is a critical approach that seeks to dismantle the hegemonic and oppressive structures of Eurocentric epistemologies. It promotes reflection on how texts and knowledge production perpetuate othering and oppression. Imag(in)ing decoloniality along with ecocritical thinking, this paper envisions tropical ecology as transcending the constraints of dominant discourses and explores how graphic narrative aids in reconfiguring the boundaries between human subjectivity and decolonial-ecocritical aesthetics. The article emphasises the potential of multimodality to proffer novel approaches for considering the connections between human/non-human, nature/culture and the tropical/temperate, and advocates a decanonisation of literary genres to decentralise the power of logocentric discourse. More specifically, the paper examines three eco-graphic narratives—Martina and the Bridge of Time (2020), Dengue (2015), and Bhimayana (2011)—to demonstrate their capacity in articulating coloniality in the tropical environment to highlight the importance of addressing historical and cultural wounds. This intersection of decoloniality, ecocriticism, and graphic narrative, along with the notion of tropicality, allows us to witness the evolution of the fields in an exciting and complex way. In sum, we examine how graphic narrative can act as a decolonial option for the tropics.

Author Biographies

Anindita Ghosal, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, India

Anindita Ghosal is a PhD research scholar at the Department of Humanities and Social Science at the National Institute of Technology Durgapur, West Bengal, India. She enthusiastically advocates decolonial thought and espouses decolonial options. Her commitment to decoloniality stems from a deep-seated understanding of the historical injustices her ancestors faced, the remnants of which are imprinted in the collective unconscious of her society. She strives to write alongside colonised peoples, amplifying their voices, experiences, and perspectives, acknowledging the importance of centring their narratives and knowledge systems in the discussions of decoloniality. Her understanding of a deep and symbiotic relationship between humans and non-humans is rooted in the animistic belief system ingrained in her culture, motivating her to decolonise ecological thought from the confines of the coloniser’s perspective and foster an indigenous ecological worldview.

Arindam Modak, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, India

Arindam Modak has been teaching as an Associate Professor of English of Humanities & Social Sciences at the National Institute of Technology Durgapur. Dr Modak, contributes to the article from a position of in-depth exploration of the critical approaches that embrace decoloniality. The author has never lived in colonised conditions. However, his creeds have evolved through a process of decolonisation as his native land had been subjugated by colonial powers. The history and materiality of decolonisation and the struggles involved in it have left a psychical impact on the author. The decanonisation of literature through graphic novels is one of the objective correlatives reflecting and refracting colonial historical narratives.

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Published

2023-07-03

How to Cite

Ghosal, A., & Modak, A. . (2023). Imag(in)ing Decolonial Ecology: Exploring Tropical Eco-Graphic Narratives. ETropic: Electronic Journal of Studies in the Tropics, 22(1), 175–196. https://doi.org/10.25120/etropic.22.1.2023.3975

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 1 (2023): Decolonizing the Tropics: Part One

Section

Literatures and Literary Analyses

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