Orientalists, Propagandists, and Ilustrados: Filipino Scholarship and the End of Spanish Colonialism by Megan C. Thomas argues that Filipino intellectuals in the late nineteenth century used Orientalist styles and methods for anti-colonial purposes.

Megan C. Thomas examines how the knowledge gathered by the ilustrados connected to global nationalist movements of their time. Often credited with fueling the Philippine Revolution of 1896, these scholars drew from diverse fields—ethnology, philology, history, folklore, and orthography—to question colonial rule and foster a sense of Filipino identity. Thomas reveals how, in their efforts to define “Filipino,” the ilustrados often engaged with Orientalist and racial theories, blurring the boundaries between nationalist and colonialist thought.

Through this book, Thomas also traces the origins of Philippine studies and outlines the diverse discourses of Filipinoness that have influenced, and continue to shape, scholarship in the Philippines over the last century.

Megan C. Thomas is an associate professor in the politics department of the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Publisher:
Anvil Publishing, Philippines

Publication Date:
2016

Format:
Softcover / 8.44 x 5.5 inches / 277 pages / BW

Language:
English

ISBN: 978-971-27-3301-7

The book has foxing on the pages but is otherwise in good condition.