Theoretical Approaches in Philippine Literature

Maria Roxainne O. Nuñez, LPT

Philippine literature is a rich and diverse body of work, deeply rooted in the country’s
history, culture, and societal changes. Several theoretical approaches are used to study and analyze
these works. Here is a fact sheet that outlines the key theoretical frameworks applied in the study
of Philippine literature.

1. Formalism

 Focus: Emphasizes the form and structure of literary works.

 Key Concepts: Examines the technical elements of texts—such as language, style,
imagery, symbolism, and narrative technique—rather than the historical or social context.
 Relevance in Philippine Literature: Formalist critics analyze how Filipino authors craft
stories, poems, and plays to create meaning through literary devices.
 Example: Studying the use of symbols and metaphors in Jose Garcia Villa’s poems, or
focusing on narrative structure in Nick Joaquin’s short stories.

2. Marxism

 Focus: Highlights class struggle, economic systems, and social issues as central to
understanding literature.
 Key Concepts: Considers how literature reflects, supports, or critiques socio-economic
conditions, especially regarding power relations between the bourgeoisie and the
proletariat.
 Relevance in Philippine Literature: Many Filipino literary works explore the country’s
colonial history, feudalism, and class oppression. Marxist critics look at how these issues
are represented in literature.
 Example: Amado V. Hernandez’s works, like Luha ng Buwaya, highlight social
injustices and the plight of the working class.

3. Postcolonialism

 Focus: Examines the effects of colonialism on cultures and societies, especially in

formerly colonized countries like the Philippines.
 Key Concepts: Postcolonial criticism explores themes of identity, resistance, hybridity,
and the effects of Western colonialism on Philippine literature.
  Relevance in Philippine Literature: Many Filipino literary works deal with themes of
identity, nationhood, and the struggle to overcome the legacies of Spanish, American, and
Japanese colonization.
 Example: Ninotchka Rosca’s State of War can be analyzed using postcolonialism, as it
delves into national identity and resistance against colonial and post-colonial powers.

4. Feminism

 Focus: Analyzes the portrayal of gender roles, the representation of women, and the
power dynamics between genders in literature.
 Key Concepts: Feminist literary theory explores how literary works challenge or
reinforce patriarchal norms and advocate for women’s rights and experiences.
 Relevance in Philippine Literature: Filipino feminist writers often address gender
issues, social expectations, and the marginalization of women in Filipino society.
 Example: Lualhati Bautista’s Dekada '70 explores the role of women in a male-
dominated society, set against the backdrop of the martial law era.

5. Historicism

 Focus: Considers literary works within the context of the historical conditions in which
they were produced.
 Key Concepts: Historicism argues that literature cannot be separated from the time
period, political events, and social climate that influenced its creation.
 Relevance in Philippine Literature: The Philippines’ rich historical narrative—marked
by colonialism, revolution, and social change—provides a backdrop for much of its
literature.
 Example: Analyzing Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere through historicism provides insights
into its commentary on the oppressive Spanish regime during the 19th century.

6. Structuralism

 Focus: Views literature as part of a broader system of signs, where meaning is derived
from structures and patterns in texts.
 Key Concepts: Structuralism focuses on linguistic and cultural systems that shape
meaning in literary works.
 Relevance in Philippine Literature: This approach is used to analyze how Filipino
authors use myths, folklore, and cultural symbols to structure their narratives.
 Example: Structuralist analysis can be applied to Epifanio San Juan Jr.’s works, which
often play with Filipino myths and cultural narratives.
7. Reader-Response Theory

 Focus: Emphasizes the role of the reader in interpreting and giving meaning to literary
texts.
 Key Concepts: This approach argues that meaning is not inherent in the text but is
created through the interaction between the reader and the text.
 Relevance in Philippine Literature: Reader-response theory allows for the exploration
of how different Filipino readers interpret works based on their cultural backgrounds,
experiences, and perspectives.
 Example: Different Filipino readers might interpret F. Sionil José’s The Pretenders
based on their personal experiences with class and political corruption in the Philippines.

8. Cultural Criticism

 Focus: Examines literature within the context of culture, analyzing how texts reflect or
challenge societal norms and cultural practices.
 Key Concepts: This theory looks at how literature both shapes and is shaped by the
cultural conditions of its time.
 Relevance in Philippine Literature: Filipino works often reflect the complexity of
Filipino culture, including its colonial past, diverse ethnic backgrounds, and evolving
social values.
 Example: Cultural criticism can be applied to Carlos Bulosan’s America is in the Heart,
which explores the experiences of Filipino immigrants and cultural displacement.

9. Deconstruction

 Focus: Deconstruction questions the idea of fixed meanings in texts and seeks to uncover
multiple, sometimes contradictory, interpretations.
 Key Concepts: This approach argues that meaning in literature is unstable and can be
deconstructed to reveal hidden biases, contradictions, or assumptions.
 Relevance in Philippine Literature: Deconstruction can be used to analyze how
seemingly straightforward narratives in Filipino literature may contain subtext that
challenges dominant ideologies.
 Example: Deconstructing Nick Joaquin’s The Woman Who Had Two Navels could reveal
how the text plays with the binaries of identity and colonial history.
10. Ecocriticism

 Focus: Explores the relationship between literature and the environment, and how nature
is portrayed in texts.
 Key Concepts: Ecocriticism looks at how literary works represent environmental
concerns, sustainability, and the human-nature relationship.
 Relevance in Philippine Literature: The Philippines' geographical diversity and
frequent natural disasters make the environment a recurring theme in Filipino literature.
 Example: Works like Merlinda Bobis’ Fish-Hair Woman explore the intertwining of
nature, history, and human suffering, making it suitable for an ecocritical approach.