Notes

Edward Said's influential work, Orientalism (1978), is a scholarly examination of the West's historical, cultural, and political views of the East. Said argues that such views have been deeply incorporated into Western literature, art, and academic knowledge and forged a juxtaposed relationship between the imagined 'Orient' and 'Occident'. At the heart of Said's thesis is the way in which 'Orientalism' functions as the mode of discourse by which the West 'othered' the East, or defined it as irreducibly different and inferior so as to legitimize colonialism and empire (Said, 1978). He illustrates this point by examining the works of such scholars as Anquetil and William Jones, who often drew upon their firsthand experiences to paint a picture of the Orient as exotic, backwards, and in need of Western intervention.. He contends that this representation was a projection of Western fantasies and biases rather than an accurate picture of Oriental reality.



His criticism reaches beyond the realm of historical scholarship and points to the continuing influence of Orientalist ideology on contemporary life. He submits that Orientalism has, over the centuries, manufactured an unfounded representation of Eastern civilizations, with implications for stereotypical depictions and policy decisions that inform cultural exchanges and international relations, as something even the most cursory glance at the news will confirm. The perpetuation of Orientalist thought in such contexts today underscores the need to interrogate and subvert what are after all carefully cultivated fictions for the purpose of enabling more nuanced and just global conversations. This is made plain in his reading of the Orient's 'Description', the purpose of which was to render it less various and complex ᅳ less difficult ᅳ for 'the Orientalist', such that it might be more easily digested in the West where he resided (Said, 1978:15-17).



Upon reflection, it is clear that Said's ideas continue to influence the ways that Orientalism shapes how I relate to cultural and educational systems. The way that English and Western cultural norms continue to dominate global academics and media continue to both delimit the possibilities of knowing and perpetuate cultural hierarchies of knowing that privilege Western ideas. It motivates me to continue to strive toward a more critical and inclusive engagement with others and myself, one that acknowledges that the location of ideas matters.



Far from just a rote academic exercise in colonial history, Said's work issues a call to think and act anew in our engagements with the world. It spurs consideration of the power dynamics inherent in cultural representation, and the importance of cultivating a critical awareness of these processes. In this vein, Orientalism provides invaluable guides for my civic and academic work, supplying a conceptual apparatus with which to analyze and challenge the systematic injustices perpetuated by the orientalist narratives. This is crucial if we are to make progress towards a global society in which all cultures and histories can be fully acknowledged and embraced on their own terms.