Truth, Power, and Knowledge. Female Travel Writings
This article begins with a reflection about the influences of the travel reports – real or imaginary ones – on the modern discourse, diversity, and alterities. It also considers the reports as a power instrument, since, according to Foucault, the force of power resides in the production of positi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Spanish |
| Published: |
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
2008-09-01
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| Series: | Revista Estudos Feministas |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/ref/article/view/9955 |
| Summary: | This article begins with a reflection about the influences of the travel reports – real or
imaginary ones – on the modern discourse, diversity, and alterities. It also considers the reports
as a power instrument, since, according to Foucault, the force of power resides in the production
of positive effects in both knowledge and desire levels. Thus, the chroniclers responsible for the
first descriptions of the New World are visited. Their books were very useful to the new travelers by
revealing the mystery of the foreign lands, as well as their customs, alimentary habits, dressing
ways, and familiar relationships, among others. The narratives written by women are then introduced
considering the specificity of their approach. After all, when appearing to the public, they need
to establish a relationship between space, knowledge and authority, and, in order to validate
their discourse, they make use of history and references to the consulted sources. Marquesa
Calderón de la Barca (Life in Mexico during a residence of two years in that country, de 1843);
Condessa de Merlín (La Havane, de 1844); and Nísia Floresta (Itinerário de uma viagem à Alemanha,
de 1857) are some of the writers analyzed here. |
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| ISSN: | 0104-026X 1806-9584 |