THE EAST - WEST PHOBIA: DECONSTRUCTING EDWARD SAID’S ORIENTALISM

Abstract

For decades, the illustrious work of Edward Said’s Orientalism has been feted for not only having deconstructed the encounters between the Orient and Western Orientalists as a significant form of ‘Othering’ representation but also for adopting the Foucauldian discourse as a central methodology in his writing work. Orient in this case was the West dictate framed by the political forces and designed to primarily establish cultural and political supremacy over the Orient in Egypt, Persia, India, Asia Minor, Japan, China and Mesopotamia. Orientalism on the other hand was a manner of regularized writing dominated by the perspectives, stereotypes, imperatives and ideological biases apparently suited to the Orient. Edward’s work depicts the way the Orient was and is perceived by the Westerners which in essence is gradually diminishing and not a reality any more. He also notes that the general representation of the East by the Westerners was a complex hegemony and was completely over-exaggerated and for this reason, the Europeans had for long seized the opportunity to justify imperialism and domination over the East. He argues that by voluntarily adopting another culture in order to peacefully co-exist does not imply that volunteers have willingly relinquished their power and dominance and can therefore be easily colonized. In the light of the foregoing, this article therefore examines the concept of Orientalism as defined by Edward which in turn answers the question of ideological conflict of perception between the Orient and Occident. Moreover, the article analyses the concept and characteristics of ‘latent orientalism’ and ‘oriental other.’ In addition, a critique on Edward’s work on Orientalism that is still regarded as the first breakthrough in appreciating the compounding effect of the XIXth century colonization is undertaken. Finally, a summary of the article along with recommendations is made in the conclusion section.