PASSAGE TO INDIA NOTES (IMAGINATIVE LANDSCAPE)

-------- put into these sections 1. Colonialism 2. Word

bank (Terms and definitions, vocabulary)
INDIAN HISTORY
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Europeans were keen to travel to India and Southeast Asia to trade.

Was thought to be a paradise and exotic to Europeans
During the 16th and 17th century, countries like France, Portugal and
England competed for influence along the South-Eastern coast of
India Land back then meant power
These countries established trading posts along the coast
Queen Victoria was particularly keen on India and designated herself
as Empress of India

A PASSAGE TO INDIA BACKGROUND

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Film based on the novel by the same name by E.M. Forster

Began writing in 1913 and published in 1924
Directed by David Lean in 1984
Set during British occupation of India (1910s-1920s)
British occupation lasted from 1858-1947

THE BOOK IS BASICALLY ABOUT The many tensions between the British
expatriates and the Indians who had to live under a foreign oppressor that
saw itself as being there for the Indians own good.

TERMS AND DEFINITIONS:

Colonialism the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control

over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.
Pacification Pacification is an attempt to create or maintain peace. That can
mean appeasing a hostile country through diplomacy or even just by settling an
argument. A pacifist is someone who is against fighting and wars.
Paternalism the policy or practice on the part of people in authority of restricting
the freedom and responsibilities of those subordinate to or otherwise dependent on
them in their supposed interest.
Francophone/Angliphone The term parallels Anglophone (English-speaker),
and Francophone, which designate people whose mother tongues are English and
French, respectively. Note that native speakers of aboriginal languages are generally
not treated as allophones

Assimilation (Cultural) Cultural assimilation is the process by which a

person or a group's language and/or culture come to resemble those of

another group.

Appropriation (psychological reconciliation)

Post colonialism Postcolonialism or postcolonial studies is an academic
discipline that analyzes, explains, and responds to the cultural legacy
of colonialismand imperialism. Postcolonialism speaks about the human
consequences of external control and economic exploitation of a native people and
its lands.
Manifest destiny the 19th-century doctrine or belief that the expansion of the
United States throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable.

PASSAGE TO INDIA
The film serves two purposes
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Provides conceptual ideas that we can investigate further and

develop our own point of view
Gives us moments, quotes, situations, descriptions to act as opening
triggers for our writing

IDEAS/NOTES
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Where the British live it is very serene and like a paradise, but is
contradicted by the slums of where the Indians live.
Indians are not allowed in the British areas
The British are only shown the fake India
They havent been corrupted by the power yet
British have made their own little Britain to make them feel more at
home
There is always some sort of barrier between the British and Indians
They have pre-conceived opinions of each other

Concepts
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Window: Seeing their culture through a lens and we dont see the
whole picture (not the reality)
Barriers: The division of two cultures
Mysteries: The Indian culture is a mystery to the British
Caves: The idea of meeting a new culture and not respecting it will
affect you.

Ideas from scenes:

a. The mosque scene
- They both have a connection to God (the British and Indians)
- Although their socio economic class is different they still have their
similarities
b. The garden party/ Mrs Moores conversation with Ronny
- British sitting higher level than everyone else
c. Dr Aziz and Fieldings first meeting at his house
- Very kind man
- Was surprised by his kindness
- Wants to impress Fielding to give him and India a good image
because they are superior
d. Adelas encounter with the monkeys
- Destructed temple
- Theyre unknown, frightening and vicious to her
- Experiences the real India and finds out that it is a scary place
- Finds her sexuality and the monkeys are her fears
e. Dr Azizs preparation for the picnic
- Going over the top to impress the British
f. In the Mountains
- Found her fears in India and ran away again

Idealised

Reality
Confronting
culturally unprepared
Sexually confronted
Passion vs courtship
Overwhelming
Raw/unfiltered

When two cultures shape a landscape? What are the complexities?

Post colonialism
Exotic vs the reality

Discomfort
Hostile reactions
Traveller
Identity
Power imbalance
Coloniser colonised
East is east differences (insurmountable)
[East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet]

Relationship:
Mr. Fielding and Dr Aziz
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Connection through humanity

Their race didnt separate their friendship

Mrs. Moore and Dr. Godbole

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Spiritual connection

Notes for writing an essay

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Select specific context

Select a particular trigger
Have a clear purpose
Form (Aim and Tone)
Identify audience
Use lots of 3rd party resources