Eleventh Global Studies Conference

Abstract

The Modern World system was born with the discovery of the Americas, when a local knowledge (European) with a global design relegated the rest of the world views and knowledge to the status of subaltern. A diachronic contradiction is inherent in the Eurocentric world system according to Walter Mignolo, i.e, the internal and external. Internal conflict between empires of Europe with the same world views and external conflict with the “other,” which is not one but many, but despite their differences Europe painted the “other” in a homogenous color. America was not considered by Europe as an “Other,” but according to Walter Mignolo Europe’s daughter, its future, whereas Asia and Africa were considered to be the past of human civilization. Seventeenth century America was the site of transculturalism where different world views, local histories, and knowledge collided, making Americas a tri-continental space, with power and authority in the hands of Europe. Walter Mignolo introduces the concept of Border Gnosis/Thinking where alternative world views translate the “other,” co-existing in a habitat yet retaining their percepts and knowledge, although the transformed ones after cultural collision. Mignolo broadens the concept of episteme (system of possibility of knowledge) with an external environment doxa that to him is a space that accounts for the possibility of episteme. Gnosis according to Mignolo includes both, i.e. the episteme as well as doxa. The Americas under colonial suzerainty of Europe was a doxa where various episteme and systems of knowledge collided, giving rise to border thinking at the same time transfusing different cultural traits. The paper revisits relations of power and subjugation, in Toni Morris “Mercy,” set in backdrop of the seventeenth century Americas, using Walter Mignolo’s concept of Border Gnosis/ Thinking. Border Thinking for Mignolo is the recognition of difference. It is the knowledge and perception developed at conflictive intersections, emerging on borders when (world) views collide and neither remain same creating an altogether different doxa in new space. Paper taking the case study of relations of power and subjugation, in Toni Morris “Mercy” raise question about subjectivities when three cultures, i.e. European, Indian, and African come in contact in the wilderness that in all respects was pre-modern. It will employ the concept of border gnosis from the perspective of gender as well, when a master (man) assumes responsibly for the three women coming from different cultures, i.e. Europe, Indigenous Americans, and Africa in name of “Mercy.”