The book Orientalism revolutionized the study of the Middle East and shaped new fields of study and influenced others.

 

The book tried to answer the question: Why, when we think of the Middle East, we have a preconceived notion about what kind of people live there, what they believe, how they act, even though we may never have been there or met anyone from there.

 

More generally, Orientalism asks how we came to understand people, strangers, who look different to us, by virtue of the color of their skin.  The central argument of Orientalism is that the way we acquire knowledge is not innocent, objective, but the end result of a process that reflects certain interests.  That is, it is highly motivated.

 

a) What are the specific components of this argument, its essential themes?

b) Reflect on the argument.  What are your general reactions to the concept of orientalism, as presented in the film?

c) Prof. Sut Jhally also said that the concept is highly controversial.  What, if anything, did you find to be controversial in orientalism?