OrientalismOrientalismbyby

Edward W.SaidEdward W.Said

The Meaning of Orientalism (1)The Meaning of Orientalism (1)

Orientalism is an academic subject created by Orientalists as a system of knowledge about the Orient

It is not an airy European fantasy about the Orient, but a created body of theory

exposing and validating European superiority over Oriental backwardness.

The Meaning of Orientalism (2)The Meaning of Orientalism (2)

Orientalism is a style of thought based upon an ontological and epistemological distinction made between "the Orient" and (most of the time) "the Occident."

Thus a very large mass of writers, among

whom are poets, novelists, philosophers, political theorists, economists, and imperial administrators, have accepted the basic distinction between East and West as the starting point for elaborate theories, epics, novels, social descriptions, and political accounts concerning the Orient, its people, customs, "mind," destiny, and so on.

(Gramsci, 1979: 2)(Gramsci, 1979: 2)

The Meaning of Orientalism (3)The Meaning of Orientalism (3) Orientalism as Orientalism as a discoursea discourse which which

justifies the Occident to dominate, justifies the Occident to dominate, restructure, and have authority over restructure, and have authority over the Orient. the Orient.

The relationship between Occident The relationship between Occident and Orient is a relationship of power, and Orient is a relationship of power, of domination, of varying degrees of of domination, of varying degrees of a complex hegemony; a complex hegemony;

The Meaning of Orientalism (3)The Meaning of Orientalism (3) Orientalism as Orientalism as a discoursea discourse which which

justifies the Occident to dominate, justifies the Occident to dominate, restructure, and have authority over restructure, and have authority over the Orient. the Orient.

The relationship between Occident The relationship between Occident and Orient is a relationship of power, and Orient is a relationship of power, of domination, of varying degrees of of domination, of varying degrees of a complex hegemony; a complex hegemony;