Black Literature and the Reshaping of Critical Theory and Postmodern Approaches
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47750/Keywords:
Black literature, critical theory, postmodernism, identity politics, postcolonial theory, critical race theory, deconstruction, narrative form, subjectivity, meta-narratives.Abstract
Black literature, emerging from a history of oppression and marginalization, has not
merely contributed to the diversity of literary voices but has profoundly reshaped the
landscape of critical theory and postmodern thought. This paper examines the significant
impact of Black literature on the development of critical theory, particularly in areas such
as identity politics, postcolonial studies, and critical race theory. Furthermore, it explores
how Black literary aesthetics and narrative strategies have anticipated and informed
postmodern approaches, challenging dominant paradigms of form, subjectivity, and meta
narratives. Through an analysis of key literary works and critical scholarship, this review
argues that Black literature serves not as a peripheral addition to these theoretical
frameworks, but as a central and transformative force, compelling a re-evaluation of
canonical assumptions and opening new avenues for literary and cultural analysis.
