Theories

'Camera Indica' by Christopher Pinney and 'Can the subaltern speak?' by Gayatri Spivak are two theories I studied for this module. Both theories are unique but have similar topics. Camera Indica explores photographs that are produced over a period of 150 years in India to describe how sense perception and ideation are historically linked. Spivak, in her theory, discusses the subaltern functionary and complex colonial hierarchy. Even with constitutional rights, the social reality and exploitation of the marginalised are left underrepresented for the well-being of the upper caste. According to Spivak, the subalterns are denied their right to speak for themselves because of the fear and invisibility caught between the abhorred superiors and feared natives. The rationale of flaws in the discourse of subaltern studies as argued by Spivak is because it relies on the colonial documents, where subalterns are present very minimally and unfairly depicted.