HTH 1002 History of Thought II Spring 2017

1. Said, “Orientalism” HTH 1002 History of
Thought II
Kara Heitz

2. Where is the “Orient”?

3. Edward Said (1935-2003)
• Literary theorist, cultural critic, public
intellectual
• Multicultural life
• Palestinian-Lebanese-American
• Egyptian British education
• American academic (Columbia)
• Postcolonialism
• Orientalism (1978)
• Palestinian activist

4. British Empire in 1921 (at its peak)

7. Jean-Léon Gérôme, The Snake Charmer, 1879

8. Jean-Léon
Gérôme,
The Carpet
Merchant,
1887

9. Eugène Delacroix, The Women of Algiers, 1834

10. John Frederick Lewis, The Reception, 1873

11. David Roberts, The Hypaethral Temple of Philae, 1838

12. Jean-Joseph
Benjamin-
Constant,
A Day after a
Victory at the
Alhambra,
1882

13. Léon Cogniet, The 1798 Egyptian Expedition Under the
Command of Bonaparte, 1835

14. Producing Knowledge
about the “Orient”

15. Orientalism & 19th c.
Mass Culture

16. What is Orientalism?
• System of Knowledge based on
West/”Orient” distinction
• Self/Other
• Political purposes
• Not just collection of
misrepresentations
• Maintaining consent (Gramsci)
• Politics of cultural objects
• Power/Knowledge (Foucault)

17. Orientalism in Hollywood

18. Producing Knowledge about the “Middle East” Today