The Wretched of The Earth by Frantz Fanon (1).pptx

This is the introductory presentation.

1. The Wretched of The Earth by Frantz Fanon Presented at Department of English, MKBU BY Dhatri Parmar, Aakash Chavda, Jay Solanki Introductory Presentation On,

2. About Frantz Fanon Frantz Fanon was a Martinique-born psychiatrist, philosopher, revolutionary, and writer known for his work on decolonization and the psychological effects of colonization. He critically examined the dehumanizing impact of colonialism on both the colonized and colonizers. Fanon’s works are foundational in postcolonial studies, Black existentialism, and critical race theory. His ideas have significantly influenced psychology, philosophy, political science, and cultural studies, inspiring liberation movements across Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond. Key thinkers like Edward Said, Homi K. Bhabha, and bell hooks have drawn from Fanon’s theories. His advocacy for revolutionary violence is controversial but central to his theory of decolonization. (1925–1961)

3. Fanon ’s Major Works (1952) (1961) (1959) (1964)

4. I mportant Terms Manichaeism Role of vi olence in Colonialism Role of “Popular Leader” after independence “The infrastructure is also a Superstructure” Racialization The National Bourgeoisie Culture and Combat

5. Preface to ‘The Wretched of the Earth’ Written voluntarily by Jean-Paul Sartre in 1961 Colonialist(Europeans)/colonized(Natives), A small group of native leaders (like puppet kings and elites) acted as intermediaries between the colonizers and the colonized “Whitewashed” - identity crisis Colonizers believed that the natives would keep talking but wouldn’t rebel, because doing so would mean trying to become like the Europeans, which the natives supposedly didn’t want Sartre has discusses Fanon’s perspective and his criticism on European countries. Fanon’s work highlights the moral degradation of colonizers during the Algerian War of Independence (1954-1962)

6. Characters Colonialists/ Colonized The National Bourgeoisie: Made up of the urban proletariat, the national bourgeoisie is the ruling class of colonial society and the developing nation The Peasants Class: A large social class of Third World Country The Lumpenproletariat: A class within the peasant masses that is the absolute lowest rung of the social strata. (“urban spearhead”) The French women The Algerian man

7. Book in Five Chapters Chapter 1: On Violence in the International Context Chapter 2: Grandeur and Weakness of Spontaneity Chapter 3: The Trials and Tribulations of National Consciousness Chapter 4: On National Culture Chapter 5: Colonial War and Mental Disorders…Case Studies A,B,C,D…From the North African’s… Conclusion

8. Summary Fanon begins by asserting that colonialism is founded and maintained through violence. Decolonization, therefore, will also involve violence. Colonialism divides the world into two, with colonists seen as "light" (civilization) and the colonized as "dark" (evil and uncivilized) Colonizers takes help of colonial intermediates as means of communication. Fanon argues that the peasant masses, not the urban proletariat, are the true force for revolution. Fanon critiques the urban bourgeoisie (the intellectual class) for being too closely aligned with Western ideas and benefiting from colonial structures. After independence, the national bourgeoisie often replicates the oppressive colonial systems, creating economic stagnation and maintaining social divisions.

9. Continue… "The prognosis is in the hands of those who are willing to get rid of the worm-eaten roots of the structure" (Fanon) Under colonialism, the continent of Africa is seen as a “den of savages” that is cursed, evil, and hated on a continental scale. ‘Rise of Negro Culture’ Fanon says, Colonialism is “a great purveyor of psychiatric hospitals” and “a breeding ground for mental disorders.” Fanon, as a psychiatrist, highlights the mental disorders caused by colonialism, including anxiety, depression, and psychosis.

10. Colonialism, Racism, and Violence Fanon says that, “the colonial world is a Manichaean world,” The colonized individual is seen as the “quintessence of evil” and is considered void of any morals or ethics. At the very foundation of colonialism, Fanon thus argues, is a basic principle that seeks to separate and oppress people based on the color of their skin. From the beginning, Fanon claims that the colonial situation “was colored by violence and their cohabitation—or rather the exploitation of the colonized by the colonizer—continued at the point of the bayonet and under cannon fire.”

11. Oppression and Mental Health Algerian War of Liberation 1954 to 1962 The colonial situation, Fanon contends, is rooted in racism and violence, and it keeps the colonized living in a constant “state of rage.” Algerian criminality-brainwashing, physical torture,electocution Treated both Algerian torture victims and the French soldiers and officers who tortured them Fanon includes the case file of an Algerian man known only as B, who was treated for impotence, migraines, and anorexia after his wife was raped by a French soldier.

12. Continue… Fanon also includes the case of S , another Algerian man who was treated for “random homicidal impulses”-urge to “kill everybody,” Fanon also includes notes on a group of young Algerian children, each under the age of 10,suffered from bedwetting, sleepwalking, insomnia, and anxiety. Fanon includes notes on A , a young European police The Frenchwoman was disgusted and embarrassed by her father’s involvement in the oppression of the Algerian people Fanon includes his notes on R , tortures his wife and children just as he tortured the Algerians.

13. colonialism “sows seeds of decay here and there that must be mercilessly rooted out from our land and from our minds.” -Fanon

14. Decolonization, Neocolonialism, and Social Class Process known as decolonization , which, plainly put, is the undoing of colonialism and the oppression that goes along with it. Development of national consciousness ’ Nation revolves around the national bourgeoisie , or the ruling class lead to neocolonialism To involve the lumpenproletariat —the very lowest social class. Fanon, the peasant masses “are generally the least politically conscious, the least organized as well as the most anarchistic elements,” “prepared to make sacrifices, willing to give all they have, impatient, with an indestructible pride.”

15. Continue… The bourgeoisie hesitant to rebel against the same economic system that benefits them. When the classes come together, Fanon says, it “can produce an explosive mixture of unexpected power,” which is just what is needed to decolonize a country and build a new nation.

16. Culture and the Emerging Nation Colonial forces oppress colonized individuals is through the erasure of black culture. Devoid of culture and meaningful artistic expression. The absence of culture is considered the height of barbarism Africa “was akin to a darkness of the human soul.” “The recognition of a national culture and its right to exist” “Negro” culture, a unifying black culture “negritude:” , an affirmation of African culture and heritage, which attempts to bring a unifying black culture to the world stage.

17. Continue… African culture can’t possibly reflect the cultural importance of the entire African diaspora, To do so is to further marginalize and oppress true black culture, and this is counterproductive to decolonization Black Americans like Wright and Hughes, Fanon says, quickly “realized that their existential problems differed from those faced by the Africans.” “fundamentally different” culture as per individual. “the only common denominator between the blacks from Chicago and the Nigerians or Tanganyikans was that they all defined themselves in relation to the whites.”

18. Conclusion In a nutshell, The Wretched of the Earth is a powerful critique of colonialism and its lasting impact on colonized peoples. Fanon argues that these people should not simply adopt Western ways, as they are often built on oppression. Instead, they should create their own unique paths based on their own culture and history. Violence, though necessary in some cases, is not the ultimate solution. The true goal is to build a new society that is free from the shackles of colonialism and the oppressive structures of the West.

19. References Fanon, Frantz. “Preface to Frantz Fanon's Wretched of the Earth by Jean-Paul Sartre.” Marxists Internet Archive , https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/sartre/1961/preface.htm. Accessed 27 September 2024. Fanon, Frantz. “The Wretched of the Earth Study Guide | Literature Guide.” LitCharts , 31 October 2019, https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-wretched-of-the-earth. Accessed 28 September 2024.