Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak

Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak is a University Professor at Columbia University, appointed in March 2007. She founded the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society and occasionally teaches elementary and intermediate Chinese classes. Her work bridges literary theory, cultural studies, and postcolonial critique.

Research Focus: Spivak pioneered postcolonial theory, emphasizing the concept of the subaltern (marginalized voices excluded from dominant narratives). Her scholarship critically engages with Jacques Derrida's deconstruction, Western imperialism, and power dynamics in literary discourse. Key interests include:

• Decolonizing knowledge systems
• Critiques of Eurocentrism
• Translation theory (notably Derrida's works)
• Intersections of gender, class, and colonialism

She leads the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society, fostering interdisciplinary research on global literary and societal structures.