Salman Rushdie
Celebrating Multiculturalism

Biographical Overview
Born in 1947 in Bombay, India
Family moved to Pakistan
Settled in England; in 1967 received M.A. from King's College, Cambridge

Biographical Overview
1981—published Midnight’s Children, winner of Booker McConnell Prize for Fiction
1988—published The Satanic Verses
1989– the Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran issued a fatwa ordering Rushdie’s assassination, forcing him into hiding

Biographical Overview
1990—Rushdie declared his support of Islam
Rushdie remained in hiding for 9 years but continued to publish
1998—new Iranian government no longer supported the fatwa

Slide 5

Central Artistic Concepts
Postmodern parody and satire
Celebration of cultural change, multiplicity, and diversity

Central Artistic Concepts
Magic Realism
Influence of Indian Cinema— “Bollywood”

“The Prophet’s Hair” p. 2843
Fable about clash of Eastern and Western cultures and results of denying one’s native traditions
Sacred vial—the continuing power of native cultural traditions
Advocates accepting one’s cultural past and integrating it with new worlds to create a balance of cultural influences