Why has orientalism endured—and what shape does it take today?

Edward Said’s groundbreaking work Orientalism exposed the ways the West constructed the “Orient” as its cultural opposite. But how has this controversial theory evolved over time? And does it still illuminate the politics of representation in our postmodern world?

In this incisive and highly original study, Ziauddin Sardar traces the emergence, transformation, and persistence of orientalism across centuries. He situates Said’s contribution within its historical moment, engages with critics who have challenged and redefined the theory, and examines its reworking during the Middle Ages, Enlightenment, colonialism, and modernity. From scholarly texts to films, novels, television, and even digital media, Sardar reveals how orientalism continues to reinvent itself as a sophisticated tool for representing the “Other.”

Clear, concise, and provocative, this book provides both a compelling overview and a fresh perspective on one of the most influential—and contested—ideas in contemporary cultural theory.

Publishing Date: 1999
ISBN: 9780335202065
Original Language: English
Pages: 144
Dimentions: 16 x 23 cm