Edward Said

Edward Siad

A Palestinian-American academic and literary critic known for his work on Orientalism.

Orientalism

A concept by Edward Said that critiques the Western representation of Eastern cultures as exotic and inferior. It argues that these representations serve to justify colonialism and perpetuate stereotypes, depicting Eastern societies as backward and needing Western intervention for development. Orientalism leads to a dichotomy where the 'Orient' is viewed as the 'Other', contrasting with the rational, superior 'Occident'.

The Exotic Other

A term referring to individuals or cultures perceived as alien and different, often romanticized and idealized, in contrast to the 'normal' or 'Western' self.

Stuart Hall's Concept of Symbolic Power

The ability to order knowledge and assign meaning to objects through the act of collecting and archiving.

Intra-cultural divisions

Divisions that occur within the same culture, often influenced by external representations and internalized prejudices.

Window and Mirror Analogy

A framework for understanding how literature reflects both the outside world (window) and personal identity (mirror).