Edward Said (1935-2003) has been widely praised as a leading thinker of post-colonialism
and even as one of its founding figures. Moreover, he “became one of the most widely known,
and controversial, intellectuals in the world during his lifetime” (Ashcroft 2009, 1). His best
known book, Orientalism (1978), is a milestone in post-colonial theory and was one of the
first examples for combining French critical theory with Anglophone cultural and textual
tradition (cf. Castro Varela 2005, 31). It actually paved the way for differentiating critical
Postcolonial Studies from the earlier Commonwealth Literary Studies with their uncritical
continuation of colonial prejudices (cf. ibid, 23). Even Daniel Varisco (2007), who argues for
a rather critical view of Said’s work, concedes that “Said’s book stimulated a necessary and
valuable debate among scholars who study the Middle East, Islam, and colonial history.”
(Varisco 2007, XII).
Since a 10-page term paper could never do justice to a literary and scientific masterpiece like
Orientalism, this paper picks out just a small detail of its rich content: In the third and last
chapter of Orientalism, Said introduces a distinction between two forms of Orientalism,
latent and manifest. The meaning of this dichotomy does not reveal its full significance at
first reading. What exactly did Said have in mind by using this terminology – perhaps
unconsciously in addition to what he writes about it on some 20 pages of his book?
Several scholars have commented on this distinction and its significance for Said’s work. This
paper will build on that material and attempt to analyze and summarize what can be found
out about the dichotomy. Particular interest will be devoted to the philosophical roots Said
was referring to when writing about latent and manifest Orientalism.
• Was he influenced by Arab Philosophy in using the dichotomy?
• Did he use the terms in the psychoanalytical sense introduced by Sigmund Freud and
also used by Jacques Lacan?
• How do some of Said’s critics, like Maria do Mar Castro Varela, Daniel Martin Varisco
or John McLeod interpret and evaluate the distinction?
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Edward Said on Latent and Manifest Orientalism
- The philosophical Roots of Latent and Manifest.
- Said's Critics on Latent and Manifest Orientalism.
- Final Remarks
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper explores the concept of latent and manifest Orientalism as defined by Edward Said and examines his critics’ views on this dichotomy. The paper aims to analyze the philosophical roots of Said's distinction and evaluate how his critics interpret and assess its significance.
- The nature of Orientalism as a political and cultural construct.
- The distinction between latent and manifest Orientalism.
- The philosophical influences behind Said's concepts.
- The critical reception of Said's work on Orientalism.
- The role of Orientalism in shaping Western perceptions of the Orient.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This section provides an overview of Edward Said's contributions to postcolonial theory, highlighting his seminal work, Orientalism (1978). It contextualizes Said's personal experiences and intellectual influences, explaining his critical perspective on Orientalism.
- Edward Said on Latent and Manifest Orientalism: This chapter examines Said's conceptualization of latent and manifest Orientalism. It explores Said's arguments about the unconscious nature of latent Orientalism and the various stated views that constitute manifest Orientalism. Several examples from Said's work are used to illustrate these concepts.
- The philosophical Roots of Latent and Manifest: This section delves into the philosophical foundations of Said's distinction between latent and manifest Orientalism. It investigates potential influences from Arab philosophy, psychoanalysis (Freud and Lacan), and other relevant intellectual sources.
- Said's Critics on Latent and Manifest Orientalism: This chapter presents various critical perspectives on Said's concept of latent and manifest Orientalism. It discusses the arguments put forward by notable critics such as Bill Ashcroft, Daniel Varisco, Maria do Mar Castro Varela, and John McLeod.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper focuses on key concepts such as Orientalism, postcolonial theory, latent and manifest Orientalism, Edward Said, psychoanalysis, critical theory, and the representation of the Orient in Western culture. The analysis explores the philosophical roots of these concepts and examines their influence on Said's work and its reception by critics.
- Quote paper
- Dkfm., BA Karl-Heinz Mayer (Author), 2012, Latent and Manifest Orientalism as Seen by Edward Said and his Critics, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/273351
