Joseph Conrad

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

You've been quoted in my #Storify story "Getting started" https://t.co/x9ZAeb1RsE

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheJConrad You've been quoted in my #Storify story "Getting started" https://t.co/x9ZAeb1RsE

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheRealCAchebe Me as well, I think you had a very interesting point of view, and I am glad to have had such an enlightening conversation with you.

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheRealCAchebe and for that I truly do apologize. I made gross generalizations during the course of my writing , and was unable to do the natives justice.

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheRealCAchebe But you’re right, I could have been better about creating a more realistic portrayal of the African people, and their vibrant culture

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheRealCAchebe If I wanted them to look past their pride I would have needed to show a human/emotional side in the people they expected the least from.

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheRealCAchebe The Europeans at the time were at the top of the world, the believed that their civilization was the pinnacle of humanity.

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheRealCAchebe This is where the idea of them being savages comes from, and though it's sad that there culture was ignored, this was the common view.

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheRealCAchebe In the end, it’s just art. You can’t deny that the Fang were behind Europe in terms of science and technology.

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheRealCAchebe Which is amazing of course,but you need to realize my audience of racially biased white Europeans couldn’t care less about a mask.

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheRealCAchebe Yes,I read that in your essay. You talked about how they could make masks and “were among the world’s greatest masters of the sculpted form”

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheRealCAchebe A deeper analysis suggests that they are just as human as the Europeans.

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheRealCAchebe Though my characters seem to be racist and dehumanize the African people.......

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheRealCAchebe Meanwhile the “civilized” Europeans committed multiple atrocities in order to acquire material wealth.

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheRealCAchebe These “savages” were able to defy one of the most primal human urges and show restraint.

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheRealCAchebe The cannibals, unlike the Europeans, were the only ones who showed restraint and “ stood up to hunger”.

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheRealCAchebe However, you also need to realize that I made use of irony in my piece. A major tool in my argument.

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheRealCAchebe On the surface many of my characters were “dark bodies “ who “exchanged short grunting phrases”

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheRealCAchebe So yes, I admit that my portrayal of life on the Congo River made use of stereotypes.

[Joseph Conrad @TheJConrad]

@TheRealCAchebe My piece was a criticism of imperialism in Africa, and to prove this point I created a view of Africa that my audience would relate to