Gothic Topoi and the Postmodern Imagination in Nnedi Okorafor’s Akata Witch

Julius Kipkorir A. Chepkwony, Nicholas Kamau Goro, Stephen Muthoka Mutie and Jane Wanjiru Mugo
Additional contact information
Julius Kipkorir A. Chepkwony: Department of Literary Studies, Turkana University College, Lodwar, Kenya
Nicholas Kamau Goro: Department of Literary and Communication Studies, Laikipia University, Kenya
Stephen Muthoka Mutie: Department of Literature, Linguistics and Foreign Languages, Kenyatta University, Kenya
Jane Wanjiru Mugo: Department of Literary and Communication Studies, Laikipia University, Kenya

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 2022, vol. 6, issue 9, 782-787

Abstract: This paper explores Okorafor’s Akata Witch as an exemplification of Gothic nuances inhabiting the postmodernist world. Okorafor’s dexterous deployment of Gothicism as topoi that uncovers salient postmodern issues contemporaneous with society. The study is anchored on the emerging theory propagated by Maria Beville, Gothic-postmodernist theory. Through a close reading of selected text, this study analyses Gothic topoi that serve to elucidate sublime terrors in the form of fear of self, immortality and transcendence to the ethereal realm. Okorafor’s Akata Witch was sampled out purposely because it is flavored with Gothic topoi that amplify postmodern concerns. The paper argues that Gothic topoi deployed by the writer evince society’s sensibilities and contradictions in the twenty first century. It established that the Gothic topoi of placeness and Gothic characters revitalize restoration of Gothic as a distinct genre. A conclusion is made that Gothic topoi buttress postmodern notions of hegemonic commodification. The study adds to the polemics surrounding the continuous evolvement and centrality of Gothicism in literature. The study also contributes to the field of Gothic-postmodernism as ever-changing and evolving genre. It entrenches it as a distinct genre that requires more academic attention and recognition.

Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ ... -issue-9/782-787.pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.rsisinternational.org/virtual-library/ ... orafors-akata-witch/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bcp:journl:v:6:y:2022:i:9:p:782-787

Access Statistics for this article

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science is currently edited by Dr. Nidhi Malhan

More articles in International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science from International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS)
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Dr. Pawan Verma ().