Questions About Orientalism

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Answered Questions (3)

Has anyone read any critique of this? To me - Said's talk of Orientalism is based on some definition of an Occident. He does to the Occident what he claims the Occident did to the Orient. This might be a way of revenge, but there is one major academic flaw. Anyone here who has done some readings about that?

Richard Thompson I think that you are misreading the book. He is very careful to avoid doing what you are saying that he is doing, although he acknowledges that almost…moreI think that you are misreading the book. He is very careful to avoid doing what you are saying that he is doing, although he acknowledges that almost any attempt to look at any culture from the outside is likely to have some of the same problems as Orientalism. As Madeleine points out in her comment, his 1994 afterword is the part of the book that deals with this issue most directly.(less)

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Has anyone of you read this book? I am sorry that the author did not live long enough to that Europeans were not terribly askewed in their notion of orient. Time somewhat proved them correct.

Ali I would definitely say he wouldn't change his mind today. Problems of the East did not occur only in the XXI century. Radicalism, nationalism, fanatic…moreI would definitely say he wouldn't change his mind today. Problems of the East did not occur only in the XXI century. Radicalism, nationalism, fanaticism existed long before in the East. But isn't the West also guilty of these problems? They invaded these lands, but they did not attempt to solve the problems when they left these territories.(less)

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How readable is this book for someone that lost connection with academic philosophy some time ago? Does it assume significant knowledge/refers other works without explaining them - like it's common for some of the philosophy? How clear is the language to a layman?

Faranae I read this for a 3rd year course in undergraduate university, so I don't think it's too inaccessible. There are sometimes academic terms that you mig…moreI read this for a 3rd year course in undergraduate university, so I don't think it's too inaccessible. There are sometimes academic terms that you might need to look up (keeping in mind their meaning might have changed since this book was published in the 70s), but it doesn't rely heavily on unexplained references.(less)

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