Theory: Orientalism

Said's definition of orientalism

* a way of coming to terms with the Orient that is based on the Orient special place in European Western Experience -Orientalism is essentially a socially constructed category based on the Western Perception of Asians

Comparing Emerson and Thoreau

*Emerson was interested in making a clear distinction between East and West, even as he tried to think through the similarities *Thoreau ties to collapse those distinction, to get rid of the hierarchies *Much of American thinking on Indian has allowed the Emersonian method of distinction -A distinction based on the discourse of orientalism --> (Occident v. Orient)

What is Orientalism?

*Socially constructed social imaginary *Made by those who are in the position of dominance: western world -Through their interactions with people in Asia, they decide what it means to be oriental → To be Orientalized

Relationship between culture and politics

*The idea that their culture is inferior is reinforced by the contrast between Western politics *There is no neutral position studying people, there is always the perspective of the researcher -The way of thinking which is already informed by colonialism because that is what had provided access to the colony -This is a feedback loop

Name and Author of Article

-Name: Orientalism -Author: Edward Said

What is the T-Chart fueled by?

-geopolitical interests/colonialism -Interests which was created by culture

Theoretical framework: Edward Said on Orientalism

Orientalism is a style of thought based upon an ontological and epistemological distinction made between the Orient and most of the time, the occident

Gerome: The Snake Charmer

The painting of a young boy in the middle of the room holding up a snake