What according to Said is ‘Crisis’ in Orientalism?

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According to Edward Said, the idea of “crisis” in Orientalism refers to a deep intellectual, moral, and political problem in the way the West has studied, represented, and spoken about the East (the Orient).

Said believes that Orientalism is not an innocent academic discipline. Instead, it is a system of knowledge linked with power, and this creates a serious crisis.

In simple terms, the crisis in Orientalism can be explained through the following points:

Edward Said argues that the first crisis is a crisis of representation. The West does not describe the Orient as it really is. Instead, it creates imaginary, stereotyped, and fixed images of the East. Eastern people are shown as backward, irrational, emotional, lazy, and uncivilized, while the West is shown as rational, progressive, and superior. Because of this, the Orient loses its real voice, and the Western version becomes the “truth.” This false representation creates a serious intellectual crisis.

The second crisis is a crisis of knowledge and objectivity. Orientalist scholars claim that they study the East objectively and scientifically. Said challenges this claim. He says that Orientalist knowledge is biased and politically motivated. It is shaped by colonial interests. Therefore, what is presented as “pure knowledge” is actually knowledge mixed with power and domination. This destroys the credibility of Orientalist scholarship and creates a crisis in academic integrity.

The third crisis is a political and moral crisis. Orientalism helped justify colonial rule and imperialism. By portraying Eastern societies as inferior and incapable of self-rule, the West justified controlling them. Said sees this as morally dangerous because it supports oppression, racism, and cultural arrogance. Thus, Orientalism becomes a tool of domination rather than understanding.

Finally, Said points out a crisis of humanism. Orientalism claims to promote learning and culture, but in reality, it dehumanizes Eastern people. They are treated as objects of study, not as equal human beings. This contradicts the true spirit of humanism.

In conclusion, according to Edward Said, the crisis in Orientalism lies in its false representation, lack of objectivity, connection with imperial power, and moral failure. Orientalism does not truly understand the East; instead, it controls and defines it from a position of Western superiority.

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