This thesis analyzes the representation of Inuit culture in the Arctic novels of Thériault and Houston, suggesting implications for authenticity.
This thesis deals with the Arctic novels of Yves Thériault and James Houston, who were inspired by this starkest and most intriguing of Canada's landscapes. In particular it focuses on the problematic representation of the Inuit and their culture by white southern writers. It is my contention that Thériault's somewhat ambiguous claims to authority and his unexplained Eurocentric depiction of the Inuit result in texts which are misleading and perpetuate racist stereotypes. In contrast, the more recent writing of James Houston achieves a degree of authenticity and authority through his sensitivity to cross-cultural tensions and his ability to write an in-depth and detailed portrait of Inuit life and culture.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Patrick Henry Hanlon (1994) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: