english lit presentation

8/6/2019 English Lit Presentation.

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GROUP MembersGROUP Members

MehrozeMehroze Khan BTKhan BT--0808--1414

IqraIqra Butt BTButt BT--0808--3131

SidraSidra YousafYousaf BTBT--0808--5151

FawazFawaz QureshiQureshi BTBT--0808--7575


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Mehroze KhanMehroze KhanBTBT--0808--1414


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Edward Wadie Sad (1935Edward Wadie Sad (1935--2003)2003)

was a Palestinian Americanwas a Palestinian Americanliterary theorist and advocateliterary theorist and advocatefor Palestinian rights.for Palestinian rights.

He was University Professor ofHe was University Professor ofEnglish and ComparativeEnglish and ComparativeLiterature at ColumbiaLiterature at ColumbiaUniversity.University.

Said was an influential culturalSaid was an influential culturalcritic and author, known bestcritic and author, known bestfor his bookfor his book OrientalismOrientalism

(1978), which catapulted him(1978), which catapulted himto international academic fameto international academic fame


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Early lifeEarly life

Said was born inSaid was born inJerusalem (on NovemberJerusalem (on November1935).1935).

His father and motherHis father and mother

both had protestantboth had protestantbackground.background. Fluent in English, French,Fluent in English, French,

and Arabic and a Masterand Arabic and a Masterof Arts (1960).of Arts (1960).

He did Ph.D. (1964) inHe did Ph.D. (1964) inEnglish Literature fromEnglish Literature fromHarvard University.Harvard University.


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OrientalismOrientalism

He argued that a long tradition ofHe argued that a long tradition offalse and romanticized images offalse and romanticized images ofAsia and the Middle East inAsia and the Middle East in

Western culture.Western culture. So far as the United States seemsSo far as the United States seems

to be concerned, it is only a slightto be concerned, it is only a slightoverstatement to say thatoverstatement to say thatMoslems and Arabs areMoslems and Arabs are

essentially seen as either oilessentially seen as either oilsuppliers or potential terrorists.suppliers or potential terrorists.


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Sidra YousafSidra YousafBTBT--0808--5151


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Said is most famous forSaid is most famous fordescribing and critiquingdescribing and critiquingOrientalism.Orientalism.

He described falseHe described falseassumptions underlyingassumptions underlyingWestern attitudes towardWestern attitudes towardthe East.the East.

Said claimed a "subtleSaid claimed a "subtleand persistentand persistentEurocentric prejudiceEurocentric prejudiceagainst Arabagainst Arab--IslamicIslamicpeoples and their culture.peoples and their culture.


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InIn OrientalismOrientalism, the book, Said asserted that, the book, Said asserted thatmuch western study of Islamic civilization wasmuch western study of Islamic civilization waspolitical intellectualism bent on selfpolitical intellectualism bent on self--affirmationaffirmation

rather than objective study.rather than objective study.According to Said, the history of EuropeanAccording to Said, the history of European

colonial rule and political domination over thecolonial rule and political domination over theEast distorts the writings of even the mostEast distorts the writings of even the mostknowledgeable, wellknowledgeable, well--meaning and sympatheticmeaning and sympatheticWestern Western OrientalistsOrientalists..


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Said concluded thatSaid concluded thatWestern writings about theWestern writings about theOrient depict it as anOrient depict it as anirrational, weak, feminizedirrational, weak, feminized

"Other", contrasted with the"Other", contrasted with therational, strong, masculine.rational, strong, masculine.

An imaginary geographicalAn imaginary geographicalline was drawn betweenline was drawn betweenwhat waswhat was oursours and whatand what

waswas theirstheirs The orients were regardedThe orients were regarded

as uncivilized peopleas uncivilized people


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Iqra ButtIqra ButtBTBT--0808--3131


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EurocentrismEurocentrism

Centered or focused onCentered or focused onEurope or European people.Europe or European people.

is the practice of viewingis the practice of viewing

the world from a Europeanthe world from a Europeanperspective and with anperspective and with animplied belief.implied belief.

The term EuroThe term Euro--centrism wascentrism wascoined during the period ofcoined during the period ofdecolonizationdecolonization in the latein the late20th century20th century


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Eurocentrismin literatureEurocentrismin literature

Much of the cultural work ofMuch of the cultural work ofbuilding and sustainingbuilding and sustainingEurocentrismEurocentrism was done inwas done inpopular genres of literature,popular genres of literature,

especially literature for youngespecially literature for youngadults.adults.

Edgar Rice supported theEdgar Rice supported thepolitical and military builders ofpolitical and military builders ofWestern empires by presentingWestern empires by presentingidealized Western heroes whoidealized Western heroes whoconquered 'savage' peoples inconquered 'savage' peoples inthe remaining 'dark spaces' ofthe remaining 'dark spaces' ofthe globe.the globe.


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Origin ofOrigin ofEurocentrismEurocentrism

EarlyEarly EurocentrismEurocentrism can becan betraced to the Europeantraced to the EuropeanRenaissance.Renaissance.

European superiorityEuropean superiorityincreased during the period ofincreased during the period ofEuropean imperialism, whichEuropean imperialism, whichstarted slowly in the 15thstarted slowly in the 15thcentury.century.

Many European writers of thisMany European writers of thistime construed the history oftime construed the history ofEurope as paradigmatic forEurope as paradigmatic forthe rest of the world.the rest of the world.


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Influence of Edward SaidInfluence of Edward Said

OrientalismOrientalism isregarded as central to theisregarded as central to thepostcolonialmovement, encouraging scholarspostcolonialmovement, encouraging scholarsfromnonfromnon--westerncountries.westerncountries.

His work continuesto be widely discussed inHis work continuesto be widely discussed inacademic seminars, disciplinary conferences,academic seminars, disciplinary conferences,and scholarshipand scholarship

Both supportersand critics of Edward SaidBoth supportersand critics of Edward Said

acknowledge the profound, transformativeacknowledge the profound, transformativeinfluence that his bookinfluence that his book OrientalismOrientalism has hadhas hadacrossthe spectrum ofthe humanities.acrossthe spectrum ofthe humanities.


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VIDEO of Edward SaidVIDEO of Edward Said

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