No Season of Migration to the West: Theorizing the Non-Western in the Writings of Larry Neal

The study discusses the role the non-Western and its theorization play in the discourse of the BAM movement, taking the writings of Larry Neal as a case study. The study starts with explaining its historicizing approach which situates both the texts under study and the approach itself in their historical context showing both limitations and advantages. Then, a number of theoretical techniques and strategies used by Neal to theorize the non-Western, namely, the epistemological departure from the West, glorifying popular culture, and activism, are discussed in detail. The study then argues that the discourse of Larry Neal might well fit within the notion of postocoloniality and concludes with a deconstructive critique of the notion of the non-Western and proposes a substitute term, “De-westernization,” which might solve the inner contradictions in the discourse.