Orientalism

I AM JUST AT THE BIGINING OF THE BOOK BUT I AM SOMHOW FAMILIAR WITH THE NOTION OF THE BOOK.I THINK THE IDEA IS QUIET INTRESTING AS IT QUESTION THE PREIVAILE ORDER AND CONCEPTION OF THE EUROPEAN COOUNTRIES BY BEING SUPERIOR AND ALL SORTS OF STERYOTYPES THAT ARE EVEN ARE IN OUR LANGUAGE.FORM MY CHILDHOOD MOST OF THE PEOPLE AROUND ME ALWAYS USED TO SAY "FORIEGNERS" ARE SO AND SO AND THMSELVES HAD ...more

I AM JUST AT THE BIGINING OF THE BOOK BUT I AM SOMHOW FAMILIAR WITH THE NOTION OF THE BOOK.I THINK THE IDEA IS QUIET INTRESTING AS IT QUESTION THE PREIVAILE ORDER AND CONCEPTION OF THE EUROPEAN COOUNTRIES BY BEING SUPERIOR AND ALL SORTS OF STERYOTYPES THAT ARE EVEN ARE IN OUR LANGUAGE.FORM MY CHILDHOOD MOST OF THE PEOPLE AROUND ME ALWAYS USED TO SAY "FORIEGNERS" ARE SO AND SO AND THMSELVES HAD A KIND OF FEELING OF INFERIORITY IN RELATION TO THEM AND FOR ME THE EUROPE OR AMERICA BECAME A SORT OF DREAM LAND AND A UTPIA.IT SOMEHOW CONTRIBUTED TO THE WEAKNESS OF CULTURAL AND NATIONAL SELF-ESTEEM.THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN AROSE IN IRAN (AS THE EXPERTS)SAY SINE AFTER THE IRAN-RUSSIA WARS OF THE 19 CENTURY.THIS BOOK DEFFINITLY QUESTIONING THAT NOTION AND ALSO CRITISIZING EUROPEAN CONCEPTION OF ASIAN AND AFRICAN COUNTRIES.THE BOOK FOR ME (AS FOR EDWARSD SAID IS)IS BOTH A KIND SEARCH BASED ON PERSONAL EXPERIANCES AND ALSO MY INTREST IN SUCH A ISSUES.   hide

Orientalism was a real eye opener when studying for my BA in Media and Communication. It's a tool that helps to understand the myths that have been used to define people often branded the 'other' by a superior force. Said's theories have been called into question by many academics but his thesis is still highly sought after.

Great book! Highly recomended.

This book provides a good foundation for understanding what we today know as East vs West (or at least what has been constructed as East vs West). It was one of the most difficult books I have ever read, I kept stopping to analyze and well his message worked in that I now able to critically analyze the current state of affairs we see today from another perspective! Said embodies intelligencia!

Said does a super job in laying out how Orientalism, as an western academic discipline, has shaped the discourse between Orient and Occident. While it is true that history proves that empires have dominated and been dominated, it is quite sad, that we have missed so much of what the Orient has to offer, because of our western misconceptions. I enjoyed the book, but really thought Said was going...more

Said does a super job in laying out how Orientalism, as an western academic discipline, has shaped the discourse between Orient and Occident. While it is true that history proves that empires have dominated and been dominated, it is quite sad, that we have missed so much of what the Orient has to offer, because of our western misconceptions. I enjoyed the book, but really thought Said was going to say more about Orient and correct many of the long-standing misconceptions.   hide

This is a seminal text in promoting a more inclusive worldview that is critical of one group's assumptions about the "otherness" on another group.

Incisive and necessary reading.

If you want to embark on postmodern theory without losing your mind, start here. This is a good book with an interesting take on western views of eastern culture.

The Western mentality towards the East is pretty well defined by Said. I especially enjoyed how in-depth he went with multiple regions and time periods without making too many hasty generalizations. The whole "West bearing gifts to the Eastern tribesmen" mindset is basically what caused the infamous Opium Wars (or Trade Wars, depending on your nationality) in the 1800's. Personally, I believe...more

The Western mentality towards the East is pretty well defined by Said. I especially enjoyed how in-depth he went with multiple regions and time periods without making too many hasty generalizations. The whole "West bearing gifts to the Eastern tribesmen" mindset is basically what caused the infamous Opium Wars (or Trade Wars, depending on your nationality) in the 1800's. Personally, I believe the whole sentiment that the East is extraneous still exists today in America. Great book.   hide