Book Critique: Orientalsim by Edward W. Said

The term 'orientalism' was introduced to me during a discussion on the film 'black narcissus'. I believe that orientalism has strong links to my contextual studies essay, I therefore decided to educate myself further on the topic with this read by Edward W. Said.

"the orient is almost a European invention, and had been since antiquity, a place of romance, exotic beings"

"he comes up against the orient as an American first, an individual second (…) it meant being aware that one belongs to a power with definite interests om the orient."

"orient: it was made the subject of lyrics, fantasies and even novels".

"western cultural discourse, a strength too often mistaken as merely decorative or super structural".

"anyone resident in the united states since the 1950's will have lived through an era of extraordinary turbulence in relations if east and west. no one will have failed to note how "east" always meant danger and threat". - despite being focused towards the 50's, I believe the 1930's reflects similar beliefs, possibly the beginning of this misconception.

"one aspect of the electronic, postmodern world is that there has been reinforcement of the stereotypes by which the orient is viewed."

"what right have you to take up these airs of superiority with regard to people of whom you choose to call oriental?".

"oriental (…) it designated Asia or the east geographically, morally, culturally"

Cromer: "I content myself nothing the fact that somehow or other the oriental generally acts, speaks and thinks in a manner exactly opposite to the European."