SimM finished reading Orientalism by Edward Said
Orientalism is a 1978 book by Edward W. Said, in which the author discusses Orientalism, …
Fantastic book exploring the history of a field/system of thought and how it and its political context(s) co-informed each other. Although I barely knew any of the authors whose work Said cited/analyzed, his selected passages provide varied and illustrative (?) nuggets for a decidedly convincing (and, of course, immensely influential) argument. I often wanted to ask him “Okay, so if they [the Orientalists] got that wrong, what would have been the true representation of X?” But, if you read the book, you realize the answer to that question is that it’s fundamentally flawed, and steeped in a/the key pattern of Orientalist thinking: a uniform “Orient” exists, it has an essence, and this essence is knowable, particularly or specifically to Western experts (a triple fallacy).
Writing was excellent, some long sentences, had to regularly re-read passages to make sure I understood. Said paints his pictures elegantly, including when outlining the shortcomings …
Fantastic book exploring the history of a field/system of thought and how it and its political context(s) co-informed each other. Although I barely knew any of the authors whose work Said cited/analyzed, his selected passages provide varied and illustrative (?) nuggets for a decidedly convincing (and, of course, immensely influential) argument. I often wanted to ask him “Okay, so if they [the Orientalists] got that wrong, what would have been the true representation of X?” But, if you read the book, you realize the answer to that question is that it’s fundamentally flawed, and steeped in a/the key pattern of Orientalist thinking: a uniform “Orient” exists, it has an essence, and this essence is knowable, particularly or specifically to Western experts (a triple fallacy).
Writing was excellent, some long sentences, had to regularly re-read passages to make sure I understood. Said paints his pictures elegantly, including when outlining the shortcomings of (often contemporary) scholars. Quite funny at times. Introduction lays out overall argument very well. Afterword is a must, as it contextualizes the book from the vantage point of the 1990s — this is valuable as throughout, I kept wondering how post-1978 events would amend or characterize his argument.
Looking forward to reading more Said, and writers whom he influenced (countless).
