Seminar in Historical Analysis (405-0-22)

Topic

Orientalism and its Discontents

Instructors

Rajeev Kinra
847/467-1241
Harris Hall - Room 307

Meeting Info

Harris Hall room 101: Tues 2:00PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

Edward Said's Orientalism (1978) has been one of the most influential -- and controversial -- works of scholarship of the last half century. As a pioneering work of postcolonial theory, it has reshaped entire disciplines, from history and area studies to comparative literature, anthropology, and even the study of English literature(s). But Said has also had his critics, some very astute and others not so much. In this course, we will begin by closely reading Said's own works to try to understand them in all their nuance and complexity, and then examine some of the arguments of his later critics of various disciplinary backgrounds.

Learning Objectives

Enhance critical reading and analytical skills; navigate debates within academic fields; get a firm grounding in the historical phenomenon of Orientalism, as well as theoretical attempts to understand it

Evaluation Method

Short response papers throughout the quarter; final paper on a topic of your choosing

Class Notes

History Major Concentration(s): European, Asia/Middle East, Global