Orientalism

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Revision as of 11:31, 15 October 2011

Orientalism

Orientalism is a book published in 1978 by Edward Said that has been highly influential and controversial in postcolonial studies and other fields. In the book, Said effectively redefined the term "Orientalism" to mean a constellation of false assumptions underlying Western attitudes toward the Middle East.

-UNDER CONSTRUCTION-

Orientalism in general is a term used for the imitation or depiction of aspects of Eastern cultures in the West. "Orientalism" refers to the Orient or East, in contrast to the Occident or West. In the 19th century the term was generally used to refer to the works of artist specialized in "Oriental" subjects (reference).

The Palestinian-American scholar Edward Said published in 1978 his influential and controversial book, Orientalism, which gives an other meaning to the term 'orientalism'. He used the term to describe a pervasive Western tradition, both academic and artistic, of prejudiced outsider interpretations of the East, shaped by the attitudes of European imperialism in the 18th and 19th centuries. Said was critical of both this scholarly tradition and of some modern scholars, particularly Bernard Lewis.

Edward Said's Orientalism forms an important background for postcolonial studies. His work highlights the inaccuracies of a wide variety of assumptions as it questions various paradigms of thought which are accepted on individual, academic, and political levels.

the 'now'

-Criticism -Supporters -Influences -Post-colonialism -Humanist -Post-modernist -Eastern views of the West -> occidentalism

References

Contributors

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