--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Imperialism, or the conquest and…" description: "\"Imperialism, or the conquest and colonization of other populations, other peoples, has had as one of its side effects the growth of a discourse of obje..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/w-j-t-mitchell-32893_categories_imperialism-or-the-conquest-and-coloniza_868430.jpg" --- # Imperialism, or the conquest and colonization of other… ![“Imperialism, or the conquest and colonization of other populations, other peoples, has had as one of its side effects the growth of a discourse of objectivity. That is, when you encounter something new, something strange, something different, you have to find categories for it, you have to come to…” quote by W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/w-j-t-mitchell-32893_categories_imperialism-or-the-conquest-and-coloniza_868430.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/w-j-t-mitchell-32893_categories_imperialism-or-the-conquest-and-coloniza_868430.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/w-j-t-mitchell-32893_categories_imperialism-or-the-conquest-and-coloniza_868430.jpg) > “Imperialism, or the conquest and colonization of other populations, other peoples, has had as one of its side effects the growth of a discourse of objectivity. That is, when you encounter something new, something strange, something different, you have to find categories for it, you have to come to terms with new objects.” [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Imperialism creates a discourse of objectivity to categorize unfamiliar peoples and cultures, turning difference into a subject of analysis. **In simple terms:** Colonialism forces new categories for the unknown. Key Takeaway Recognize how power shapes what we deem "objective." Themes imperialism objectivity colonial discourse knowledge production Mood critical reflective Type analytical theoretical When to use this quote - anthropology research - museum curation - education curricula - media representation Key Concepts postcolonial theory epistemology cultural hegemony Questions to Reflect On - How do our categories reflect power? - Can we see beyond imposed objectivity? A Different Perspective Objectivity can mask bias and justify domination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Colonization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colonization/) [Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquest/) [Discourse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discourse/) [Encounters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encounters/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Imperialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperialism/) [Objectivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objectivity/) [Side effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/side-effects/) ## Related quotes > [I think it's very important to distinguish between objectivity - which tends to be open, flexible, skeptical of its own certainty and open to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/i-think-it-s-very-important-to-distinguish-between-objectivity-which/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [Planet colonization is not a short term concern of mine. The physical limitations of space travel render it low on the list for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/planet-colonization-is-not-a-short-term-concern-of-mine-the-physical/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Colonization means potential immortality for the human genus. Man's safety on Earth was never great, and it dwindles hourly. Disarmament, even world government, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-anderson/colonization-means-potential-immortality-for-the-human-genus-man-s/) [Poul Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-anderson/) > [Historians still often see the end of the war as meaning nothing more for Germany than lost territories, lost participation in colonization, and lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustav-stresemann/historians-still-often-see-the-end-of-the-war-as-meaning-nothing-more/) [Gustav Stresemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustav-stresemann/) > [Colonization was the idea that once slavery ended African-Americans should be encouraged - or required, in some people's view - required to leave the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-foner/colonization-was-the-idea-that-once-slavery-ended-african-americans/) [Eric Foner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-foner/) > [I cannot make it better known than it already is that I strongly favor colonization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-cannot-make-it-better-known-than-it-already-is-that-i-strongly/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“I find forgiveness overrated. There are times and places when it’s appropriate. But not when the demand that you forgive is used to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-leckie/i-find-forgiveness-overrated-there-are-times-and-places-when-it-s/) [Ann Leckie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-leckie/) > [“When individuals and communities do not govern self, they risk being ruled by external forces that care less about the well-being of the village.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/when-individuals-and-communities-do-not-govern-self-they-risk-being/) [T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/) > [ “\[...\] colonization was a paedophile \[sic\] who insists on being a parent.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapiwa-mugabe/colonization-was-a-paedophile-sic-who-insists-on-being-a-parent/) [Tapiwa Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapiwa-mugabe/) > [“The journey of a thousands suns begins today. Some may question whether the journey is worth the sacrifice and danger. To them I say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-marusek/the-journey-of-a-thousands-suns-begins-today-some-may-question/) [David Marusek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-marusek/) > [“Beef had hit $300 a kilo. Not that he could recall the last time he’d tasted real beef.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-kirwan/beef-had-hit-300-a-kilo-not-that-he-could-recall-the-last-time-he-d/) [Barry Kirwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-kirwan/) > [“They must train you pretty good not to react to shit like that. Must take stuff out of you.” Vince’s eyes intensified then broke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-kirwan/they-must-train-you-pretty-good-not-to-react-to-shit-like-that-must/) [Barry Kirwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-kirwan/) > [The loss of national identity is the greatest defeat a nation can know, and it is inevitable under the contemporary form of colonization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slobodan-milosevi/the-loss-of-national-identity-is-the-greatest-defeat-a-nation-can/) [Slobodan Milosević](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slobodan-milosevi/) > [“To be sure, the church has greatly assisted the colonialist; backing his ventures, helping his conscience, contributing to the acceptance of colonization even by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-memmi/to-be-sure-the-church-has-greatly-assisted-the-colonialist-backing/) [Albert Memmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-memmi/) > [Humor is widely used by Indians to deal with life. Indian gatherings are marked by laughter and jokes, many directed at the horrors of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-gunn-allen/humor-is-widely-used-by-indians-to-deal-with-life-indian-gatherings/) [Paula Gunn Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-gunn-allen/) ## More by W. J. T. Mitchell > [We segregate men from women, and no matter how many times we insist that men and women are equal, men and women should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/we-segregate-men-from-women-and-no-matter-how-many-times-we-insist/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [I see stereotypes as fundamental and inescapable and not as something that is... The kind of common view is "Oh, we shouldn't think in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/i-see-stereotypes-as-fundamental-and-inescapable-and-not-as-something/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [Distinction between species and specimen is very much like the distinction between images and actual pictures, or, you know, objects that have a definite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/distinction-between-species-and-specimen-is-very-much-like-the/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [Stereotypes are ways of making extremely primitive and simple differentiations. Differentiations of gender, race, class, social status - so ordinary social life is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/stereotypes-are-ways-of-making-extremely-primitive-and-simple/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [I know stereotypes have a bad reputation, people say, "Oh, you shouldn't stereotype people," but I think it's important to recognize that we couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/i-know-stereotypes-have-a-bad-reputation-people-say-oh-you-shouldn-t/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [I think it's very important to distinguish between objectivity - which tends to be open, flexible, skeptical of its own certainty and open to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/i-think-it-s-very-important-to-distinguish-between-objectivity-which/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [Writing, in its physical, graphic form, is an inseparable suturing of the visual and the verbal, the “imagetext” incarnate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/writing-in-its-physical-graphic-form-is-an-inseparable-suturing-of/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [I think its a fundamental feature of images that they move from one medium to another. And this has become hyper-evident in our time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/i-think-its-a-fundamental-feature-of-images-that-they-move-from-one/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [Objectivism is basically the same thing as faith-based science or for that matter faith-based foreign policy, where you start out with the assumption "We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/objectivism-is-basically-the-same-thing-as-faith-based-science-or-for/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [Obviously invidious and prejudicial stereotypes need to be deconstructed and overcome, but it's not that they can be destroyed. I think that would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/obviously-invidious-and-prejudicial-stereotypes-need-to-be/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [The great moment I think in human consciousness is when you realize that the object in front of you is perhaps not nameable or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/the-great-moment-i-think-in-human-consciousness-is-when-you-realize/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [Stereotypes, I want to say, have to be thought of not just as these invidious, bad things that we could get rid of, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/stereotypes-i-want-to-say-have-to-be-thought-of-not-just-as-these/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [When students scoff at the idea of a magical relation between a picture and what it represents, ask them to take a photograph of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/when-students-scoff-at-the-idea-of-a-magical-relation-between-a/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [Images are not only visual. They're also auditory, they involve sensuous impressions, bundles of information that come to us through our senses, and mainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/images-are-not-only-visual-they-re-also-auditory-they-involve/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) [Explore all 15 W. J. T. Mitchell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) ## More Categories quotes > [...the number of saintly men has not yet risen to the level where the census makes them a separate statistical category.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stigler/the-number-of-saintly-men-has-not-yet-risen-to-the-level-where-the/) [George Stigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stigler/) > [As a politician - particularly as a politician in a coalition - you quickly realise that compromise is a part of the game. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-davey/as-a-politician-particularly-as-a-politician-in-a-coalition-you/) [Edward Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-davey/) > [I've worked with jazz artists, country artists, classical artists, pop artists. I never wanted there to be categories, because when I was a kid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/i-ve-worked-with-jazz-artists-country-artists-classical-artists-pop/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [ I don't think in national categories. For me it \[policy\] is about concepts and substance. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/i-don-t-think-in-national-categories-for-me-it-policy-is-about/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [Virtually every major technological advance in the history of the human species- back to the invention of stone tools and the domestication of fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/virtually-every-major-technological-advance-in-the-history-of-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [We don't need to complicate all the "reasons" behind our emotions. It's much simpler than that. Two categories .. good feelings, bad feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/we-don-t-need-to-complicate-all-the-reasons-behind-our-emotions-it-s/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [I put the truth out there, I put the historical facts into Hip Hop to show us how much history repeats itself and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/i-put-the-truth-out-there-i-put-the-historical-facts-into-hip-hop-to/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [I am devoting my lecture in this seminar to a discussion of the possibility that we are now entering a Jewish century, a time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-a-siegel/i-am-devoting-my-lecture-in-this-seminar-to-a-discussion-of-the/) Martin A. Siegel > [A top World War II ace once said that fighter pilots fall into two broad categories: those who go out to kill and those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-top-world-war-ii-ace-once-said-that-fighter-pilots-fall-into-two/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No, I don't like legend. I mean, I don't like the category. And to begin with, to me, a legend is something that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-bacall/no-i-don-t-like-legend-i-mean-i-don-t-like-the-category-and-to-begin/) [Lauren Bacall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-bacall/) > [ I read so ravenously that I would read through whole categories. I was crazy about reading biographies. \[...\] I think biographies are very urgent… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-read-so-ravenously-that-i-would-read-through-whole-categories-i-was/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [... the notions category and functor were not formulated or put in print until the idea of a natural transformation was also at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saunders-mac-lane/the-notions-category-and-functor-were-not-formulated-or-put-in-print/) Saunders Mac Lane > [Last guy I was interested in turned out to be an incestuous necrophiliac," she said. 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