1. IAFS 1000 Orientalism and How to Read a Book by Its Cover

2. Outline
Skimming strategies
Orientalism

3. Edward Said, Orientalism3

4. How to Read a Book by its Cover
Front cover: images, blurbs
Back cover: blurbs
Table of contents
Index
Introduction
Conclusion
First and last paragraphs, sentences
Book reviews (e.g. in American Historical Review, Journal of Asian Studies)
Taking notes 4

5. Said’s Theory of Orientalism
An academic field
A style of thought based on a distinction between the Oriental and “us”
A Western style of rule over the Orient 5

6. Where is the “Orient”? In Orientalists’ heads
Originally, India and the Middle East
All of “Far East”—India, Japan, China, etc, and the “Muslim world” 6

7. What are “Orientals” like (according to Orientalists)?
Childlike
Irrational
Dishonest
Gullible yet cunning
Lazy
Incapable of order
Depraved
vs. Orientalists:
Mature
Rational
Full of clarity
Direct
Noble 7

8. Said on Orientalism Based on accepted scholarly understanding
Has less to do with the Orient than with the West 8

9. Critiques of Said
Overly focused on Western views, rather than “Oriental” agency
Overgeneralizes 9

10. Discussion Orientalist tendencies in contemporary society?
Media? Textbooks? Teaching? Your own attitudes or ideas? 10

11. Significance We must understand our own biases
We must think about the language we use 11