Postmodernism is a theory that suggests human beings can not accept actual reality as the truth, but they rather accept reality as what they perceive to be true. Meaning that humans construct their own reality based off of their tendency to associate obvious characteristics in order to make sense of their world around them. These characteristics are used to formulate a “rational” explanation of what the object or concept represents. Similar to Derrida 's theory of deconstruction which deals with the notion of difference and diffèrance meaning that we know what something is by knowing what that something is not, the postmodernism theory is a reaction based off of social knowledge. Meaning we get our social knowledge by knowing the difference
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These expectations are developed from social knowledge that is always evolving, but in no means should be taken as the “truth.” In the beginning of the novel “Erasure” by Percival Everett, the reader encounters the central character in the beginning when he introduces himself as Thelonious “Monk” Ellison. “I have dark brown skin, curly hair, a broad nose, some of my ancestors were slaves and I have been detained by pasty white policemen in New Hampshire, Arizona and Georgia and so the society in which I live tells me I am black; that is my race” (pg. 1) This paragraph is suppose to give the reader a sense of who Monk is, but is very interesting that he decided to add additional information specifically about his arrest and family history to conclude that he is Black. Descendants from slaves and encountering issues with the law are stigmas that are socially revolved around Black Americans. Everett uses the word “black” with a lower case “b” instead of using the more socially agreeable term that is presented with a capital “B.” I believe Everett presents this term intentionally to show how our society is conditioned to view its …show more content…
Stereotypes “a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing,” are falsely used as social knowledge. Stereotypes are presented in the novel as social norms. Monk is questioning his “blackness,” for he feels that his behavior and up bringing do not resemble what society feels is living the "black life.” He does know that he is “black,” by how the society has described and reacts to his presence. These descriptions and reactions are all based of stereotypes. The term black is not meant to be use to described people, but is used as a politically correct way to call a person of darker complexion than the white man. This observation of difference has concluded with the notion that there should be a separation between the two, thus the formation of either white or black race
These expectations are developed from social knowledge that is always evolving, but in no means should be taken as the “truth.” In the beginning of the novel “Erasure” by Percival Everett, the reader encounters the central character in the beginning when he introduces himself as Thelonious “Monk” Ellison. “I have dark brown skin, curly hair, a broad nose, some of my ancestors were slaves and I have been detained by pasty white policemen in New Hampshire, Arizona and Georgia and so the society in which I live tells me I am black; that is my race” (pg. 1) This paragraph is suppose to give the reader a sense of who Monk is, but is very interesting that he decided to add additional information specifically about his arrest and family history to conclude that he is Black. Descendants from slaves and encountering issues with the law are stigmas that are socially revolved around Black Americans. Everett uses the word “black” with a lower case “b” instead of using the more socially agreeable term that is presented with a capital “B.” I believe Everett presents this term intentionally to show how our society is conditioned to view its …show more content…
Stereotypes “a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing,” are falsely used as social knowledge. Stereotypes are presented in the novel as social norms. Monk is questioning his “blackness,” for he feels that his behavior and up bringing do not resemble what society feels is living the "black life.” He does know that he is “black,” by how the society has described and reacts to his presence. These descriptions and reactions are all based of stereotypes. The term black is not meant to be use to described people, but is used as a politically correct way to call a person of darker complexion than the white man. This observation of difference has concluded with the notion that there should be a separation between the two, thus the formation of either white or black race