Edward Said s Critique Of Orientalism Essay - 1777 Words

SHORT ANSWERS What are the key features of Edward Said s critique of Orientalism? Said’s critique of Orientalism is based upon the way Western scholars in the 19th and 20th century represented the East as inferior and as the ‘other’. He believes their views are based upon imperialism and a clash of cultures. Firstly imperialism, as Western countries were the invading forces that conquered the East. He says through this lens all art, writing and any other depiction of Islamic societies at the time was framed within the context of an occupying force which had no permission to be there or to study the way in which people lived. Therefore, Islamic societies were portrayed as backwards, exotic, dangerous and uncivilised. The West was to help them to become civilised through their rule. He also critiques orientalism as Muslims are portrayed as the ‘other’ — the antithesis to Western culture. Said criticised Orientalists for believing Islam is the single differentiating factor between the East and the West. For Said, Orientalists o nly focus on Islam, ignoring every other facet of society because they are too obsessed with the notion there is a complete dichotomy between the East and West — that there is a clash of cultures and they are too different to coexist. He believes this way of looking at Islamic societies doesn’t capture their essence, but is only good when it comes to understand how the West views the East. What is Islamophobia and where doesShow MoreRelatedEdward Saids Theory Of Orientalism1561 Words   |  7 Pagestheory of Orientalism was made popular by Edward Said in his 1978 work ‘Orientalism: Western Concepts of the Orient’. This essay will examine an Orientalist approach to specific countries’ people and religions. For the purpose of this essay I will focus on Orientalism in relation to the religion of Islam and the country of Thailand. 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Marlow goes on the say that he was thinking about the Roman conquerors who came to England 1900 years ago. This comparison that Marlow divulges into in the beginnings of his story frames this story and what it intends to cover in its subject matter. Marlow begins here his only overt characterization of imperialism.