In 1978, Edward Said published Orientalism, which served as a critique of Western scholarship. Said argued persuasively that Western scholars viewed the rest of the world, and particularly the Middle East and Muslim world, as the perennial ‘Other’ and, more troublingly, the ‘Lesser’.
Said’s work revolutionised several fields of study and has influenced academics, policy-makers and politicians ever since. Nearly five decades on, Said’s work has proven to be both profound and even prophetic, as current perceptions about Muslims and the Middle East, including Islamophobia, the recent refugee crisis and regional conflicts, all affirm and prove the continuing presence and dominance of Orientalism.
Join Professor Saeed Khan as he explores Orientalism as Said defined and described it and how it persists as a central component, explicitly or otherwise, in so many contemporary conversations.
Please note, this venue and time has changed from the printed programme.