Re:‘Orientalism,’ Then and Now
by avinium on Monday May 27, 2019 @05:46PM
(#20025492)
> Imo the problem with the article, and perhaps if it is a faithful representation of the original idea of orientalism, is that it is incoherent.
It’s been at least 15 years since I read Orientalism, but I recall that being exactly my impression of the book.
I came away thinking that it was an interesting collection of perspectives on historical Oriental relations with the West, but that its thesis was simply “You don’t understand us”. I didn’t feel I learned anything to counteract this apparent misconception that we Westerners all hold.
It’s been at least 15 years since I read Orientalism, but I recall that being exactly my impression of the book.
I came away thinking that it was an interesting collection of perspectives on historical Oriental relations with the West, but that its thesis was simply “You don’t understand us”. I didn’t feel I learned anything to counteract this apparent misconception that we Westerners all hold.