iii. Pitfalls of National Consciousness
As (Neil Lazarus, 1961, 233) suggests in his resistance to African literature, one of the most important theoretical …show more content…
contributions from Fanon is his insistence on what he means are "pitfalls of national consciousness." Nationalism, as Fanon argues in the wretched of the earth, often fails to achieve trans-class liberation because its aspirations are primarily of the colonial bourgeoisie - the privileged middle class that may seek to defeat the dominant colonial rule only to take its place from hegemony and control over the working class "He said.
In the section below, (Fanon, 1961, 233) explains that "national identity" carries meaning only as much as it reflects the joint revolutionary efforts of the oppressed people, which aim at mass liberation:
"National culture is not folklore, it is not abstract populism that believes that the true nature of the people can be discovered, it is not composed of the inert gaps of unjustified actions, which are less connected to the current reality of the people, The field of thought to describes, justify and praise the work done by these people themselves and keep it in existence.
In the context of this argument, greater emphasis should be placed on the ability of the architect to express coherent control and mastery over all these forces that are often dictated by the architectural style.
This is a challenge because customers that architects seek to serve or who seek to devise their design standards may be confused by modernization, who cannot express a coherent set of spatial and visual values.
iv. Identity through symbolism
We are concerned that the symbolism of initiating an architectural style with "its roots deeply engaged in our traditions but its trunk higher up in the air" must be derived from a broad study of connotations in African traditional architecture.
Architecture must be taken as the language with emphasis not only on the construction of "words" but also the meaning of "spiritual" decoding.
He also urged (Carol Blair 1999) to "look beyond the symbolism of the rhetorical text and to examine the rhetorical importance of eloquence with its consequences and its partisan - the material power of eloquence" beyond the aims, intentions and motives. "In distinguishing between what the text means (symbolic level) Dependency), Blair reminds us that the text - whether in voice, text or stone - has a meaning and meaning that transcends the interpretive intentions.
v. Common symbols used
Some symbols have been identified as the most commonly used for national identity. However, these symbols have also been used to entrench radical nationalism, Including: flag, national anthem, sports teams, medals, national and religious dress, language, buildings and others.
Symbols like these create and build national identity often consist of many different divisions of peoples (MacClancy J, 1996,
12).
a. Sports teams and medals,
Governments are now involved in sports to promote the status of a group. The other reason is to promote a sense of identity, belonging and unity through "sports nationalism."
Sport can be regarded as a diplomatic tool as public diplomacy to influence opinion. Sports are a central hobby in our modern society. Sports should be considered entertaining, fun and emotionally peaceful. This does not mean that the academic community should ignore it. Sport has become an instrument of identity.
In each country, sport has become a large part of cultural traditions and has become a means of promoting a region, proving excellence and / or emphasizing the existence of national or regional groups. It is therefore appropriate that architects be aware of this culture and spirit, and vice versa in their work.
b. Flag and National Anthem,
"The flags and songs can be used to create the nation's members by developing new habits and emotions," said the (K.R Minogue, 1967, 114). National theory requires that the national anthem reflects the deepest aspirations of the nation; this often means that words carry heavy ideological loads. "
c. Religion,
Religion creates its own symbols, but these can "often be instilled in national consciousness." The religion of the nation itself can be a symbol and an aspect of its national character, dictating the ideological position of its people. A good example of this is Islam in Pakistan and the religious conflict in Ireland, where nationalism and religion are intertwined irrevocably. Religion often plays an important role in the history of the nation as well, helping to create a sense of national identity through common history.
d. language
National identity through common history symbolizes language. "Languages thus seem to be rooted in almost anything else in contemporary societies.
A strong view of language and its role in the creation of nations is a fundamental consideration. (Poets and great authors) wrote works written in the language of the nations that in their eyes can be a very effective symbol.