Orientalism
In this wide-ranging, intellectually vigorous study, Said traces the origins of "orientalism" to the centuries-long period during which Europe dominated the Middle and Near East and, from its position of power, defined "the orient" simply as "other than" the occident. This entrenched view continues to dominate western ideas and, because it does not allow the East to represent itself, prevents true understanding. Essential, and still eye-opening, Orientalism remains one of the most important books written about our divided world.
The way this book was explaining the prevalence ond logic of Islamophobia I had to check the date, expecting it to be a very current book. Frightening that although it was written in the 70s the sort of racism and terror-mongering described in it is if anything more wide-spread than ever. This book very eloquently shows how orientalism works- it makes no parallels to things like the male/female binary (who speaks, who describes whom, who is exoticised as "other", less and deficit) but to me
This is a seminal postmodern postcolonial work of critical theory and cultural studies, deconstructing one of the most dominant grand narratives of our civilization, that continues to fuel xenofobia and wars.
God Bless Edward Said For those who may ask why one should pick up and read Edward Said's Orientalism, my response would be a difficult one to articulate. This was a book I knew I had to tackle; Orientalism started a whole intellectual counter-movement in the 1970's after all. However, the work I just finished reading was one I wrestled with intellectually throughout. The subject raised by Said is one that I agree with whole-heartedly; that wasn't the point of contention when reading this. In
The following is a true story:Me, in a San Franscisco bar reading Orientalism.The blonde girl next to me reading over my shoulder: "So what's Orientalism?"I explain as best I can in a couple sentences. Her: "There are so many isms in Asia - like Buddhism and Taoism. You know what book you should read? The Tao of Poo. It's sooo good. It's, like, the perfect way to teach Americans about Eastern Religion."Horrified, I look back to my book and take a sip of beer.
Every single empire in its official discourse has said that it is not like all the others, that its circumstances are special, that it has a mission to enlighten, civilize, bring order and democracy, and that it uses force only as a last resort. And, sadder still, there always is a chorus of willing intellectuals to say calming words about benign or altruistic empires, as if one shouldn't trust the evidence of one's eyes watching the destruction and the misery and death brought by the latest
The following is a true story:Me, in a San Franscisco bar reading Orientalism.The blonde girl next to me reading over my shoulder: "So what's Orientalism?"I explain as best I can in a couple sentences. Her: "There are so many isms in Asia - like Buddhism and Taoism. You know what book you should read? The Tao of Poo. It's sooo good. It's, like, the perfect way to teach Americans about Eastern Religion."Horrified, I look back to my book and take a sip of beer.
Edward W. Said
Paperback | Pages: 395 pages Rating: 4.09 | 16208 Users | 918 Reviews
Specify Books Concering Orientalism
Original Title: | Orientalism: Western Conceptions of the Orient |
Edition Language: | English |
Literary Awards: | National Book Critics Circle Award Nominee for Criticism (1978) |
Explanation Toward Books Orientalism
More than three decades after its first publication, Edward Said's groundbreaking critique of the West's historical, cultural, and political perceptions of the East has become a modern classic.In this wide-ranging, intellectually vigorous study, Said traces the origins of "orientalism" to the centuries-long period during which Europe dominated the Middle and Near East and, from its position of power, defined "the orient" simply as "other than" the occident. This entrenched view continues to dominate western ideas and, because it does not allow the East to represent itself, prevents true understanding. Essential, and still eye-opening, Orientalism remains one of the most important books written about our divided world.
Identify Containing Books Orientalism
Title | : | Orientalism |
Author | : | Edward W. Said |
Book Format | : | Paperback |
Book Edition | : | 25th Anniversary Edition |
Pages | : | Pages: 395 pages |
Published | : | May 2003 by Vintage (first published 1978) |
Categories | : | Nonfiction. History. Philosophy |
Rating Containing Books Orientalism
Ratings: 4.09 From 16208 Users | 918 ReviewsWeigh Up Containing Books Orientalism
Ever since its publication in 1978, this has been an iconic work, a book that is constantly referred to, be it in very divergent ways: it is praised in heaven by some and banned to hell by others. So, the least you can say is that this work gives a very own, original view of the way the West has looked and still looks to the East. I immediately stress two fraught terms here: "West" and "East", because that is where it all starts, with that distinction. It is to the great credit of Said that heThe way this book was explaining the prevalence ond logic of Islamophobia I had to check the date, expecting it to be a very current book. Frightening that although it was written in the 70s the sort of racism and terror-mongering described in it is if anything more wide-spread than ever. This book very eloquently shows how orientalism works- it makes no parallels to things like the male/female binary (who speaks, who describes whom, who is exoticised as "other", less and deficit) but to me
This is a seminal postmodern postcolonial work of critical theory and cultural studies, deconstructing one of the most dominant grand narratives of our civilization, that continues to fuel xenofobia and wars.
God Bless Edward Said For those who may ask why one should pick up and read Edward Said's Orientalism, my response would be a difficult one to articulate. This was a book I knew I had to tackle; Orientalism started a whole intellectual counter-movement in the 1970's after all. However, the work I just finished reading was one I wrestled with intellectually throughout. The subject raised by Said is one that I agree with whole-heartedly; that wasn't the point of contention when reading this. In
The following is a true story:Me, in a San Franscisco bar reading Orientalism.The blonde girl next to me reading over my shoulder: "So what's Orientalism?"I explain as best I can in a couple sentences. Her: "There are so many isms in Asia - like Buddhism and Taoism. You know what book you should read? The Tao of Poo. It's sooo good. It's, like, the perfect way to teach Americans about Eastern Religion."Horrified, I look back to my book and take a sip of beer.
Every single empire in its official discourse has said that it is not like all the others, that its circumstances are special, that it has a mission to enlighten, civilize, bring order and democracy, and that it uses force only as a last resort. And, sadder still, there always is a chorus of willing intellectuals to say calming words about benign or altruistic empires, as if one shouldn't trust the evidence of one's eyes watching the destruction and the misery and death brought by the latest
The following is a true story:Me, in a San Franscisco bar reading Orientalism.The blonde girl next to me reading over my shoulder: "So what's Orientalism?"I explain as best I can in a couple sentences. Her: "There are so many isms in Asia - like Buddhism and Taoism. You know what book you should read? The Tao of Poo. It's sooo good. It's, like, the perfect way to teach Americans about Eastern Religion."Horrified, I look back to my book and take a sip of beer.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.