"American Orientalism" by Douglass Little. Discussion of the First Chapter

Essay , 2019 , 7 Pages , Grade: 14

English Language and Literature Studies - Culture and Applied Geography

It is inescapable to write about American Orientalism without crossing over Orientalism itself for the reason that if there was no Edward Said, the works of Douglass little will not come into being. Said is of great importance as a literary critic as well as a cultural theorist in the sense that what is known now as post-colonialism is highly indebted to Said’s early works including Orientalism. Many critics agree with the fact that post-colonial theorists such as Homi K. Bhabha and Gayatri Spivak could not replace Edward Said.

Above all, he was the first one who set up the foundations of the colonial discourse along with Frantz Fanon. Thus, he has a major influence in the emergence of other post-colonial thinkers. However, this does not mean that Said’s works are holy texts. That is, they have no shortcomings. To name a few, some critics claim that Said’s works are ahistorical meaning that it is impossible that all these orientalists starting from the poet Dante would have the same colonial discursive assumptions. Second, some of the major criticism directed to Orientalism is neglecting the question of agency and resistance by the colonized itself.

Table of Contents

• Orientalism, American style: the Middle East in the minds of American by Douglass Little
• The Puritans, Mark Twain, Arabian Nights and the American Arts
• The philosophy of Us versus Them and Americanizing the Middle East
• Covering Islam and Arabs: the media and the Arab-Israeli conflict

Objectives and Key Themes

This book examines the historical development and ongoing influence of American Orientalism, exploring how Americans have constructed and represented the Middle East in their cultural imagination. The author argues that American Orientalism, much like its European predecessor, has shaped American perceptions of Arabs and Muslims, fostering stereotypes and misconceptions that have fueled political and social tensions.

• The origins and evolution of American Orientalism
• The role of literature, art, and media in shaping American perceptions of the Middle East
• The impact of American Orientalism on American foreign policy and political discourse
• The persistence of stereotypes and misconceptions about Arabs and Muslims in American culture
• The consequences of American Orientalism for the Arab world

Chapter Summaries

• Orientalism, American style: the Middle East in the minds of American by Douglass Little
• This chapter traces the roots of American Orientalism back to the Puritan era, exploring how early American writers and artists developed a romanticized and often stereotypical view of the Middle East. The author examines the works of Mark Twain, Irving Washington, and other influential figures to show how they shaped public perceptions of the region. The chapter also analyzes how the Arabian Nights and other literary works contributed to a romanticized and exoticized representation of the Middle East.

Keywords

American Orientalism, Middle East, stereotypes, misconceptions, literature, art, media, foreign policy, political discourse, Arab world, Islam, Muslims, Arabs, Zionism, cultural representation, cultural imperialism, post-colonialism, the other, binary opposition, Manichean allegory.

• Grade: 14
• Author: Issam El Masmodi (Author)
• Publication Year: 2019
• Pages: 7
• Catalog Number: V1134994
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346505941
• Language: English
• Tags: american, orientalism, douglass, little, discussion, first, chapter