Orientalism

by Ziauddin Sardar

Why did orientalism emerge and how has it evolved? Has the theory of orientalism developed by Edward Said and others stood the test of time? What is the significance of postmodernism for the future of orientalism? Orientalism, the theory and practice of representing 'the Orient' in European thought, is a controversial and a problematic concept. This book provides a concise text on the evolution and development of the theory of orientalism, the practice of orientalism in history, and its persistence and reformulation in contemporary times. It places Edward Said's contribution in an appropriate historical context, examines the work of his critics, and explores the postmodern future of orientalism. Ziauddin Sardar provides a highly original historical perspective and shows how orientalism was reworked and reinvested during the Middle Ages, the Enlightenment, colonialism and under the impact of modernity. Through the examination of a wide range of cultural products - films, television, fiction, CD-roms - this clear and coherent overview suggests that, as a practice of representing the 'Other', orientalism has been substantially it has reformulated itself as a diverse and sophisticated tool of representation.

Genres: Theory, Nonfiction, Criticism, History

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Ziauddin Sardar has written or edited 45 books over a period of 30 years, many with his long-time co-author Merryl Wyn Davies. Recent titles include Balti Britain: a Journey Through the British Asian Experience (Granta, 2008); and How Do You Know: Reading Ziauddin Sardar on Islam, Science and Cultural Relations (Pluto, 2006). The first volume of his memoirs is Desperately Seeking Paradise: Journeys of a Sceptical Muslim (Granta, 2006). His recent television work includes a 90-minute documentary for the BBC in 2006 called 'Battle for Islam'. Sardar's online work includes a year-long blog on the Qur'an published in 2008 by The Guardian newspaper.
Sardar is a Visiting Professor of Postcolonial Studies in the Department of Arts Policy and Management at City University London and is Editor of the forecasting and planning journal, Futures. He is also a member of the UK Commission on Equality and Human Rights. His journalism appears most often in The Guardian and The Observer, as well as the UK weekly magazine, New Statesman. In the 1980s, he was among the founders of Inquiry, a magazine of ideas and policy focusing on Muslim countries. His early career includes working as a science correspondent for Nature and New Scientist magazines and as a reporter for London Weekend Television.
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Reviews

[Arman Firman · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has a slow start. Never really thought that it would become such a good book. It has everything: it's concise, has a good epistemological discussion, discusses books of its time. Though some points seem problematic, one can start studying orientalism with this book.

[دُعاء الشُّعيبية]

أحب الكتب التي تحيلني إلى كتب غيرها، بل وتجبرني على الاطلاع على لوحات وأفلام والرجوع إلى الصفحات لأرى تفسيرا نقديا لها، إن هذا يشبع فضولي العلمي ويحول القراءة من مجرد فعل سلبي يتمثل في التلقي، إلى فعل إيجابي يتمثل في التفاعل.
إن مقاربة ساردار للاستشراق مهمة كونها تعرض الجانب الآخر للاستشراق الذي نعرفه من طرح إدوارد سعيد، أو بالأحرى الوجه الناقد والمتصدي لما يسميه ساردار "الموضة" الفكرية ويعني بها تحديدا أطروحات سعيد وفوكو.

هذه الشجاعة النقدية لديه جعلت كتابه خطا فارقا في فهم الاستشراق

[Imran Helal · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It would be more fruitful to see Orientalism as a whole series of discourses, changing, adapting to historic, scholarly and literary trends, but interconnected by a coherent set of common features."

[Fatma Kızıl]

Öğrencilik yıllarımda okumuştum. Said’in Orientalism’inin güncellenmiş hali ama Said’i yeni bir şey söylememekle itham ediyor.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

كان الاستشراق ولازال محل جدل واسع عند عدد من الباحثين والمختصين في دراسة الشرق بمعارفه وعلومه . يحاول ساردار في كتابه تقديم هذا الموضوع الشائك لتوضيح الالتباسات عن العلاقة بين الشرق والغرب . تلك العلاقة تأثرت كثيراً بالأهداف الكولونيالية، فكانت متوترة مشحونة بنوع من التمييز في الأحكام و التحليلات المجحفة في حق الشرق .لكن جلّ تركيزه كان منصباً على الشرق العربي و الإسلامي، بل كان عمله نوعاً من التلخيص و إعادة صياغة لمَ طرحه الكثيرون من قبله ، مؤكداً على أن الاستشراق لازال ممارساً بصورة أكثر حداثة و بشاعة لا يستطيع الغرب نفسه إنكارها . استهل كتابه بتوضيح مقاربة تكشف أحد أشكال الاستشراق في فيلم سينمائي ((مدام بترفلاي )) و توظيفه لتدعيم الصورة النمطية عند الغرب حول الشرق(( عن المرأة الشرقية الخاضعة الضعيفة التي توفر كل المتع الحسية ، ليكون الشرق مرتبط في الأذهان بالبربرية ..الجهل .. العنف .. التبعية ،هو أرض الغرائب العامرة بكل ما هو شرير و وحشي ، مبرراً بأن تلك النظرة خدمت مصالح الغرب و جعلت له المركزية في القيم و الحضارة و التطور ثم نُفي الشرق( العالم العربي و الإسلامي الصين و اليابان..) بكل منجزاته ، يعتقد أن السبب الأبرز أن الغرب حصر الشرق كله في العالم الإسلامي والأصوليين . كان هجومه شرساً على كتاب ((الاستشراق)) لإدوارد سعيد ، مؤكداً على أنه لم يقدم الكثير و إنما كان السبب وراء نجاح كتابه هو مكانته المرموقة بين الأوساط الأكاديمية في أمريكا و أوروبا. حاول تدعيم نظريته و التوكيد على تأصل الفكر الاستشراقي في عدة أعمال لأدباء .. فنانين .. روائيين ..(( آيات شيطانية..القرن الأفريقي ..الانقلاب)).. حكايات الرحالة المستشرقين و كتب التاريخ المحرفة على حد تعبيره.

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, I really did. Perhaps it was just because of my initial background with Said that I found Sardar's book quite...dull. If you've read Said, it's best not to read this anymore.

[deneka síne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provides a sound basis if you’re only just starting to understand the concept of Orientalism and provides a brilliant overview of Orientalism’s development through the Middle Ages, colonialism and the modern age. Sardar is also not afraid to make provocative and controversial arguments, particularly his interpretation on the juvenilising of ‘the Orient’. However, I don’t think this unique point was explored enough as the “paedophile complex” and the reduction of presentations of ‘the East’ in art, literature so on, to a child-like entity was given barely a page. It’s good to start you off on your research, but to understand Orientalism more, one will need to read more than this book.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best easy introduction to Said and Orientalism that I've read.

[R · Rating 1 out of 5]

The title of this book should have been 'E. Said's Orientalism for dummies'. What a waste of time and money.

[Etonmess]

A very important contribution... A classic text..... Unputdownable.....Definitely my bedside table book until I learn it by heart.....

[Tttttt]

Orientalism

[Adel · Rating 1 out of 5]

ملاحظاتي على الكتاب كثيرة .. واختياري لهذا الكتاب خطأ لن يتكرر.