Week 2 Flashcards
What is Orientalism?
“It is the Western attitude that views Eastern societies as exotic, primitive and inferior. This mindset centres the Western World and views the Eastern world as ‘The Others’; therefore, it allows Westerners to rationalise much of the Imperial conquest of the Eastern World throughout history”.
What did Edward Said, say about the aim of Orientialism?
Said examined the means by which the West produces knowledge and exerts power over the East and it is about constructing symbiotic boundaries between East and West with perpetuating power relations
How did Kedourie justify colonialism?
By emphasising the idea that Europeans are the superior race and domination over the Arab lands was justified by the idea that the Europeans had the duty to civilise other people and facilitate colonial administration
Explain the ‘lens’ concept proposed by Edward Said
We see the East through a Western lens which distorts the actual reality of those places and people.
Therefore it supports the idea that our knowledge and understanding of the East is not objective but it is constructed and is the end result of a process that reflects certain political, historical and social - economic interests
Who is the Orient?
The East - Middle Eastern countries and their inhabitants
Who is the Occident?
They are the West
What are the main contrasts between the Orient and the Occident?
The orient is underdeveloped, static, inferior and degenerate.
Whilst the Occident is seen as superior, active, rational and increasingly developed
What are the 5 basic tenets of the Orientalist theory?
(1) There is a clear difference between the Orient and the Occident
(2) European culture and identity is superior to non - Europeans
(3) The West is in a position of superiority in its relations with the non - West
(4) The relationship between that of the Orient and the Occident is that of power and domination on behalf of the Occident
(5) There is an active - passive relationship
Why should we be careful when creating ‘universalist narratives?
Because of the power dynamics that are at play - focuses on the idea that “monopolies of power have created monopolies of knowledge”
