Books by William Cohen and Andrew Curran - Book Report/Review Example

Comparative Review of Books by William Cohen and Andrew Curran The present study aims to understand the nuances that led to the immortal popularity of two books on slavery, by undertaking summarized study of each first, and then comparing both. Theme William Cohen created a film in writing when he charted the presence of Africans in the French culture and the colonial society in his book, The French Encounter with Africans: White Response to Blacks, 1530-1880. With his observant and analytical approach, Cohen formed a storyline which was gripping and a psychological understanding of what led to the condemnation and slavery of the blacks. At his point in time, Cohen very adeptly studied previous thinkers in this line, read them and represented them, and then went forward to read up the works of all those whom they read. So, on the whole, Cohen’s representation of thoughts can be considered more ideal than any other writer in the field of African Blackness. His book starts and rests on the travel monologues of numerous Europeans and French travelers and finds out the history of slavery as was evident from their anecdotes. Purpose/approach of the authors Cohen’s main purpose of writing the book was to get into psyche of thinkers who condemned and classified Blacks as inferior to Whites, and why they did so. He tried to follow the thinkers as they set about talking of French ideals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, and how their understanding of equality was discriminatory. The book directly points out the shortcomings in the thoughts of French scholars of the eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries. According to his observations, Cohen outlines through his book that these scholars laid basis to the modern understanding of superiority and inferiority of races much of which has only led to death and destruction of the inferior negroes, and degradation of human thinking amongst the so called superiors. While the use of a psychological understanding was Cohen’s approach to the book, Andrew Curran used an anatomical approach to the concept of discrimination against African blacks. In his book, The Anatomy of Blackness: Science and Slavery in an Age of Enlightenment, Curran has started out on seeking the nature of scientific studies conducted on Africans by members of white communities, in an age of Enlightenment, wherein, the concepts of equality was supposed to be on the forefront. He studies the ruthless experiments and their results. His findings lead to readers getting to know the terrible treatment that was meted to slaves as they were subjected to such scientific enquiries. Anatomically analyzed for differences in body builds, physiological constitution, and an undying spirit, the studies only led to a distorted thinking of African Blacks as equal to goats that were true representatives of Christian martyrdom. The concept of slavery further found support in the colonial powers of the eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries, and these wrongly scientific experiments. Contextualization With a critical analysis of the idea of slavery and how it grew as a justified wrong practice in the French and European cultures, both these authors have contributed immensely in showing the whites, how wrong they actually were in discriminating against fellow human beings just on the basis of color. Equaling Blacks to animals meant for killing and devouring was a heinous crime that only contributed to evils like cannibalism and human butchery. Curran not only explored the anatomical aspects of blackness described through scientific experiments, but also chose to anatomically dissect or criticize the literature that was presented from such scientific and philosophical works of thinkers and writers who regarded blacks inferior to whites. Differences between the two books: There are distinct differences in tone and theme of the two books. Cohen’s book takes a conservative approach and refers to thoughts and observations of travelers and writers from the eighteenth and nineteenth century. His main aim is to bring out the psychology behind the act, and show how demeaning it is to the universal understanding of terms like equality, liberty and fraternity. Cohen’s narration is retrospective and analyses the writings of previous thinkers and authors with a focus on the psychological causes and impact of the thoughts and writings. Curran’s writing on the contrary uses a very distinct approach, and tries to anatomically break down the ruthlessness of the scientific approach that justified slavery in the European countries. The narration especially is highly innovative as fictitious characters are created to showcase events that took place in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The study of writers is more direct and since he uses a scientific narration, the psychological impact of the experiments and activities of previous scientists and thinkers how supported or negated slavery, is not taken into account in the text. In short both authors chose different means to the same ends. Aspects of Convergence and Similarity between the two books The level of similarity in the two books appears subtle but is important in today’s context. Firstly, the authors have both tried to focus on how to portray discrimination against the blacks as a degraded practice in human history. For contemporary readers, understanding how importantly the two books contributed to powering the movement against apartheid and slavery is very crucial since it helps us understand how a movement against a colonial practice started, gained momentum and succeeded in making a socio-political impact in the lives of common people living in American, European and French states. Both Cohen and Curran had to convince their readers that apartheid and slavery was based on jinxed understanding of scholars and political players, who considered subjugation of humans as a part of civilization. Both authors chose to study works published by previous thinkers and scholars in the context and represent their conclusions in their own words. While Curran was more direct with his proclamations about how a certain thought was regressive to society, Cohen was more observant and conservative regarding proclamations. With respect to Voltaire’s thoughts, Curran quotes, “Whoever wants to have a nègre dissected (I mean after his death) will find that [his] mucus membrane is black like ink from head to toe” (Curran, 145). Curran’s work and method was more sarcastic while that of Cohen was analytical and reflective. Both writers have a superior writing style that ultimately convinces the reader of what they trying to say at the close of every chapter. Therefore, although their books are same, their means of reaching the goals are different, their treatment of thoughts from previous writers and thinkers are different, and their thesis is around different aspects of discrimination towards blacks, their superior writing and convincing style delivers excellently and helps readers connect to the author of respective books easily. Shortcomings of each work: Andrew Curran has created a distinct narration in his book and succeeds in grasping maximum attention with humor and sarcasm spilled in his texts. However, the narration is dramatic and therefore, although it has a strong impact on the reader’s mind, I find that in certain places, a reflective tone on a scholar or thinker’s works would have served his purposes better. For every author that he has mentioned, Curran has hastily completed his mentions and suggestions. If more words were devoted to portraying what Voltaire or Jean Riolan undertook as scientific process or thinking exercises that led them to make such pronouncements against the origin of blackness in humans, the book would have been a more complete repertoire and heralded as a body of work which presents the thesis that it uses to create itself. In his book, The French Encounter with Africans: White Response to Blacks, 1530-1880, Cohen, on the other hand, has a complete thesis presented in an uninteresting and textual manner. With easily lifted quotes and exhaustive explanations, Cohan provides the reader with material to ponder upon. However, with the lack of Curran’s sharpness in the narration, the reader gets completely exhausted by the end of each chapter. Use of Evidence: From scientific experiments to announced publications, the work you find in Curran’s book uses evidence in an innovative and well designed manner, with more number of writers/thinker/scholars quoted in a paragraph than Cohen’s book has. The connection between thoughts is complete with almost creative use of evidence. Cohen’s use of evidence is run of the mill with a few misses here and there and therefore, leaves one looking for more. Conclusion: Thus, with the sole aim of convincing and showcasing the futility of thoughts behind the dominance of slavery, two writers Andrew Curran and William Cohen have given to mankind evidences of how compelling literature, well presented arguments, and creative presentation of thesis can lead to betterment of society and abolishment of inferior practices as horrible as slavery and apartheid. References Cohen, William B. “The French Encounter with Africans: White Response to Blacks, 1530-1880." Bloomington: Indiana University Press (1980) 19: 36o. Curran, Andrew S. The anatomy of blackness: science and slavery in an age of enlightenment. JHU Press, 2011, Print Read More