Orientalism

• Why did orientalism emerge and how has it evolved?
• Has the theory of orientalism developed by Edward Said and others stood the test of time?
• What is the significance of postmodernism for the future of orientalism?

Ziauddin Sardar provides a highly original historical perspective and shows how orientalism was reworked and reinvested during the Middle Ages, the Enlightenment, colonialism and under the impact of modernity. Through the examination of a wide range of cultural products - films, television, fiction, CD-roms - this clear and coherent overview suggests that, as a practice of representing the 'Other', orientalism has been substantially transformed: it has reformulated itself as a diverse and sophisticated tool of representation.