COUNTER-HEGEMONIC NARRATIVE OF HOLISTIC CONNECTIONS: AN ECOFEMINIST ANALYSIS OF 10 MINUTES 38 SECONDS IN THIS STRANGE WORLD

Abstract

The present study explores the construction of counter-hegemonic narrative of holistic connections through the Turkish novelist Elif Shafak's novel, 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World. It argues that hierarchical thinking and value dualism of a patriarchal society cause hegemonic narratives which dominate the subservient people and environment. It relies on the ecofeminist theory of Karen J. Warren who traces the implications of hierarchical thinking and values dualism in the conquering and controlling masculine attitude towards woman and nature. The study interprets the characters’ struggle against hegemonic hierarchical thinking to defend the proposition that most of the societies are established on value dualism and hierarchical thinking where the approval of one value necessitates the rejection of its opposite as well as one value or norm dominates the other in hierarchical order. The hegemonic consciousness of such societies does not give space to the voices of dissent and marginalize them. The paper investigates how the marginalized characters challenge the hegemonic narrative and voice for the inclusive society and assert the diversity and inclusivity of their group. This qualitative study analyzes the text of 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World and textual analysis of the novel illustrates how the hegemonic narrative leads to anthropocentricity, exclusion, persecution and victimization of the dissents while the counter-hegemonic narrative for its inclusive and holistic approach gives a hope to the oppressed and embraces the nurturing role of nature.