What is wrong with western academic thinking according to Spivak?

Question

It does not acknowledge the subaltern
It is produced in order to express the interest of its producers.
It imposes itself on the subaltern.
It is produced in order to focus on the subaltern.

Answer 1

According to Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, the critique of Western academic thinking is primarily centered around the idea that it does not acknowledge the subaltern. In her influential essay "Can the Subaltern Speak?", Spivak argues that Western intellectual frameworks often marginalize and silence the voices of those who are considered 'subaltern'—groups that are socially, politically, and geographically outside of the hegemonic power structures.

Additionally, she discusses how the knowledge produced by these frameworks tends to serve the interests of its producers, rather than genuinely addressing or representing the complexities and experiences of marginalized groups. While all the options you've provided touch on various aspects of her critique, the central issue she identifies is the failure to adequately recognize and represent the subaltern.

Answer 2

"Which word, in the context of existentialist theory, best describes the following: the persistence of human beings in living out our lives, despite little evidence that what we do really matters in the greater universe. We create meaning in our lives even when there is little or no evidence of a natural force of omnipotent being protecting or guiding us. We simply continue to exist aimlessly."
authenticity
alienation
absurdity
freedom

Answer 3

In the context of existentialist theory, the word that best describes the described situation is absurdity.

Absurdity, in existentialist thought, refers to the conflict between individuals' search for inherent meaning in life and the indifferent, chaotic universe that offers no clear answers or purpose. This reflects the idea of persisting in life and creating meaning despite the recognition that such efforts might be ultimately without significance in the larger scope of existence. The other options—authenticity, alienation, and freedom—while relevant to existentialism, do not capture the specific struggle described in your statement regarding the aimless continuation of life in the face of existential uncertainty.