Edward Said and His Concepts: Orientalism and Imaginative Geography
Edward Said and His Concepts: Orientalism and Imaginative Geographies
Introduction
In an attempt to provide basic knowledge and clarity, this paper discusses two of Edward Said’s sociological concepts – Orientalism and imaginative geographies – defines the two concepts, and also provides examples for each. The research will be done by digging into the works of academics and average people alike, and piecing their works together to explain Edward Said’s two concepts. This paper also discusses a brief account of Edward Said’s life – from his birth until his death.
Brief Account of Edward Said’s Life and Achievements
Edward Said was born in Jerusalem in 1935 (Appelrouth & Edles, 2008). Edward’s father, Wadie Said, was a successful Palestinian businessman and he headquartered a stationery firm in Cairo (McCarthy, 2010). In his formative years, Said lived between Jerusalem and Cairo until 1948, when the state of Israel was established and his family became refugees (Appelrouth & Edles, 2008). In addition to the aforementioned, McCarthy (2010) stated that: Edward was educated at various schools in Jerusalem and Cairo, culminating his time spent at Victoria College, a prestigious school run by British teachers for the Arab elite. In his early teens, Said was expelled from Victoria College, and his parents took the drastic measure of sending him to the United States, to Mount Hermon, a prepatory school in New Hampshire. From there, the young Said moved on to Princeton, and eventually to Harvard for graduate study. In 1963, he became an assistant professor at Columbia University in New York City. He won tenure in 1966, and spent the rest of his professional life there. (p. 4)
Edward Said has received many honorary doctorates from universities in some eight countries, has published many books, and has written numerous articles and essays appearing in both scholarly journals and the popular media (Appelrouth & Edles, 2008).
As he was earning his share of enemies
Introduction
In an attempt to provide basic knowledge and clarity, this paper discusses two of Edward Said’s sociological concepts – Orientalism and imaginative geographies – defines the two concepts, and also provides examples for each. The research will be done by digging into the works of academics and average people alike, and piecing their works together to explain Edward Said’s two concepts. This paper also discusses a brief account of Edward Said’s life – from his birth until his death.
Brief Account of Edward Said’s Life and Achievements
Edward Said was born in Jerusalem in 1935 (Appelrouth & Edles, 2008). Edward’s father, Wadie Said, was a successful Palestinian businessman and he headquartered a stationery firm in Cairo (McCarthy, 2010). In his formative years, Said lived between Jerusalem and Cairo until 1948, when the state of Israel was established and his family became refugees (Appelrouth & Edles, 2008). In addition to the aforementioned, McCarthy (2010) stated that: Edward was educated at various schools in Jerusalem and Cairo, culminating his time spent at Victoria College, a prestigious school run by British teachers for the Arab elite. In his early teens, Said was expelled from Victoria College, and his parents took the drastic measure of sending him to the United States, to Mount Hermon, a prepatory school in New Hampshire. From there, the young Said moved on to Princeton, and eventually to Harvard for graduate study. In 1963, he became an assistant professor at Columbia University in New York City. He won tenure in 1966, and spent the rest of his professional life there. (p. 4)
Edward Said has received many honorary doctorates from universities in some eight countries, has published many books, and has written numerous articles and essays appearing in both scholarly journals and the popular media (Appelrouth & Edles, 2008).
As he was earning his share of enemies
References: Al-Mahfedi, M. H. (2011). Edward Said’s “imaginative geography” and geopolitical mapping: Knowledge/power constellation and landscaping Palestine. The Criterion: An international journal in English, 2(3). Retrieved August 6, 2013, from http://www.the-criterion.com/V2/n3/Mahfedi.pdf Appelrouth, S., & Edles, L. D. (2008). Classical and contemporary sociological theory: Text and readings. Los Angeles: Pine Forge Press. Bernstein, R. (2003, September 25). Edward W. Said, literary critic and advocate for Palestinian independence, dies at 67 - New York Times. The New York Times - Breaking news, world news & multimedia. Retrieved August 7, 2013, from http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/26/arts/edward-w-said-literary-critic-advocate-for-palestinian-independence-dies-67.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm Harris, T. (2009, April 15). The many faces of “Orientalism” | Love Isn 't Enough - on raising a family in a colorstruck world. Love Isn 't Enough. Retrieved August 6, 2013, from http://loveisntenough.com/2009/04/15/the-many-faces-of-orientalism/ Hoelscher, S. (2006). Imaginative geographies. In B. Warf (Ed.), Encyclopedia of human geography. (pp. 245-247). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. doi: 10.4135/9781412952422.n151 Light, D. (2008). Imaginative geographies, Dracula and the Transylvania ‘place myth’. Human geographies - Journal of studies and research in human geography, 2(2), 6-17. Retrieved August 8, 2013, from http://humangeographies.org.ro/articles/22/ McCarthy, C. (2010). The Cambridge Introduction to Edward Said. New York: Cambridge University Press. Sered, D. (1996). » Orientalism Postcolonial Studies @ Emory. Postcolonial Studies @ Emory. Retrieved August 7, 2013, from http://postcolonialstudies.emory.edu/orientalism/ Stiner, B. (2013). Human geographies - term paper - Bstiner22. Free term papers, research papers, essays, book notes | Studymode.com. Retrieved August 8, 2013, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Human-Geographies-1668939.html?topic