Orientalism: A Simple Explanation
Introduction: Orientalism is the way Western countries see and describe Eastern countries, especially places like the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa. This idea became well-known after Edward Said, a scholar from Palestine and America, wrote a book called Orientalism in 1978. In this book, he explained how Western writers, artists, and scholars have often shown the East in a way that is not true or fair. What Does Orientalism Mean? Orientalism is the study and description of Eastern cultures by Western people. It often shows Eastern countries as strange, different, and less developed. Western writers and artists sometimes present Eastern people and their way of life as mysterious or uncivilized. This idea has led to many wrong beliefs about Eastern societies. Orientalism is not just about study; it is also a way of thinking that has influenced how the West looks at the East. Edward Said’s Ideas About Orientalism Edward Said wrote that Western ideas about the East were not based on ...