Page 110 - Introducing Cultural Studies

More specifically, Said defines Orientalism in the following terms.

1. The classical tradition of
studying a region by means of
its languages and writings. 2. The second definition,
Anyone who teaches, related to this academic
researches or writes about the tradition, is "a style of thought
Orient is an Orientalist. Said is based upon an ontological and
concerned that Orientalism in epistemological distinction
this form lives on through its made between 'the Orient' and
doctrines and theses, with the 'the Occident'". Said views
"expert Orientalist" as its main these as fictions that gave rise
authority. to rhetoric of blame.

3. Orientalism, Said insists, 4. Finally, Said defines
always "overrode the Orient". Orientalism as "the corporate
As a system of thought, "it institution for dealing with the
always rose from the Orient - dealing with it by
specifically human detail to the making statements about it,
general transhuman one; an authorizing views of it,
observation about a tenth- describing it, by teaching it,
century Arab poet multiplied settling it, ruling over it: in
itself into a policy towards (and short, Orientalism as a
about) the Oriental mentality in Western style for dominating,
Egypt, Iraq or Arabia. Similarly, restructuring and having
a verse from the Koran would authority over the Orient."
be considered the best
evidence of an ineradicable
Muslim sensuality."

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