Letters to the Editor
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Distortions of reality
As someone who has quoted and provided links to Said articles and essays on this site I read with a little dismay the article. Not because Said is some sacred being for me above critique but more because the framing of the article sets a tone that is a disservice.
My experience of intellectual life has shown me that many people have opinions of subjects they no nothing or little about but still the need to proclaim loudly and with authority prevails. But further discussion and debate leads too often to the revelation that the opinion being touted is one store bought or heard repeated ad nauseam until its "truth" takes on a weight that overwhelms the reality it is based upon.
As someone who formerly wrote art criticism for an international art journal (more appropriately a rag) I can testify to this using the example of Clement Greenberg and his writing. Greenberg's "Formalism" was so powerful an influence on art in the 1950's and 60's that his shadow persisted long after his influence had waned in the art world. The number of artists and critics who held either high or low opinions of him were many but ironically the actual number who had actually bothered to read his writings for better or worse could be counted on one hand in all of my encounters over 15 years. But opinions and fiery ones at that persisted despite the darkness of which they were born.
Most of those opinions were based on sound bites heard in cocktail conversation and then taken as gospel truth. In this example one could use Roland Barthes, Derrida, Baudrillard, et al. My point in relation to this 'essay' and I have to say attack on Said via Irwin via a book review are the taglines for the article-
How Edward Said took intellectuals for a ride
The famous professor and Palestine advocate claimed that bigoted Western stereotypes about the Orient support imperialism. But Middle East scholar Robert Irwin proves it was Said who didn't have the full picture
Said was hopelessly confused about what Orientalist discourse actually was
It's a damning comment on intellectual life that Said's argument was ever taken seriously.
Most people, sad to say will read the opening tagline and without reading the article think it condemns Said to the dustbin not to mention the taglines to the other pages. Most people will not, including the majority of people who subscribe or read this site daily will not bother to go to the local bookstore, buy and then read any of Said's books. The tone and tenor of this review only adds fuel to that kind of thinking or lack thereof. Further I find no real substance in this other than more sound bites, this essay in my opinion does not belong as the headline article but more on an opinions page as its positioning gives it an authority it sorely lacks.
Does "Orientalism" have faults, absolutely. Enough to completely discount? No but like any argument or preposition it takes certain opinions and exercises the mind into thinking about them at the expense of others, it is impossible for any work of art, writing, etc to be a totality that honors all ideas and opinions will equal balance and to demand as such that one do so is ridiculous.
I don't read Salon daily expecting deep and insightful knowledge on every or any topic but I certainly don't like to read taglines such as this article with images of the 'antagonist' riding a flying carpet because it only adds to my disillusionment already profound and deep seated in this country of intellectual dishonesty.
I come away from this essay with the opinion that Kamiya is using Irwin to support his own view of Said. Fine, everyone is entitled to an opinion but for me I will read Kamiya now with a deeper and sharper skepticism than I did before because Irwin, it would seem is attacking Said personally if one is to believe this tagline and essay and not adding to a deeper understanding or intellectual debate to the ideas set out within “Orientalism.”
And now if you excuse me I will pluck the beam out of my eye and go find Irwin’s book for myself and come away with my own opinion.