said

Culture and Imperialism
$16.00
The name of Edward Said will forever be associated mostly with his famous masterpiece, "Orientalism" (Orientalism) in which he studied many historical and literary texts of the 18th and 19th century to criticize the imperialist background of the field of 'Oriental studies', as it was known at the time. Despite its fame however, "Orientalism" is a difficult read for most people, lacking a clear structure and containing long excursions on generally obscure travel books from the 1820s and so on.

For the readers intrigued by the idea of "Orientalism" but who seek a more structured, accessible and explicitly political version of the same, "Culture and Imperialism" is the ideal book. It is perhaps for these reasons better than "Orientalism" at achieving its purpose, since Said's writing style is also generally better and more polemically strong in this book, and the literary studies are less obscure and more clearly linked to the topic. Though much of it still consists of 'lit crit', there is in this book a direct analysis of the imperialist contents and their historical background of such famous works as "Mansfield Park", Joseph Conrad, the "Aida" of Verdi and the oeuvre of Camus. Said brings all his erudition and subtlety of judgement to bear on these and similar products of culture, and the result is an engrossing, stimulating and effective polemic, while generally lacking in an actual outright polemical tone.

Also of interest is that a significant part of the book is concerned with the counter-imperialist products of culture, from the poetry of Yeats to the evocative works of Fanon and Achebe. As some have remarked already, what it does not do is establish Said's somewhat exaggerated implication that imperialism is the one Grand Theme of 19th Century literature in Europe, let alone the 20th; but imperialism certainly is a major one, and Said has done great work in excavating that particular aspect. In a time when the 'new conservatism' has made it en vogue to unreflectively declare the West 'superior' again to the Orient (despite the West having historically been vastly more murderous and destructive) and in an atmosphere where the ideas of the White Man's Burden are undergoing a revival, the criticisms of an intellectual like Said are sorely missed.

Orientalism
$16.00
I remember reading this book years ago. I am not sure I quite agree with the juxtaposing Homer with Orientalists except in the sense that Homer was from Europe, and there has been the idea of Greece being connected to the Occidental world, and Asia Minor and areas outside of the Occidental world was a curiousity and also full of wild barbarians. Many people from the West study Arabs and Arab culture using lens that strips away from our humanity. They take away the diversity and portray as some curious monolith. No civilization is monolithic. We Arab Americans are not of one mind and nor Arabs who live in the old country. We are people. We want to be viewed with a humanistic lens, and I think Said's Orientalism touches on that. It would be nice to have a more down-to-Earth book where an Arab-American speaks of certain stereotypical perceptions we have to deal with. In America, people are encouraged to support diversity when it comes to black people, gay people, but when it comes to Arabs they often see Arabs as one. If you drink, then someone assumes you are not a Muslim born Arab, you are a Christian. Should I assume someone is an atheist becuase they have had sex before marriage unlike what the Bible teaches? No. It would be shallow of me to do so. The West and the East need a bridge, and the divisions are based on illusions. That's what Dr. Said believed. I was very proud of his writing and his humanity. We need more like him.

Up
$11.98
I purchased this album just to have a little novelty music at a party. Didn't expect such great songwriting, production, and musicianship. It's really too bad these guys hit so big with "I'm Too Sexy" because the rest of the album is really catchy pop music that shows this group is serious and talented. This is such a fun record. "Up" is a great title for it, because you'll feel UP when you listen to it.

Mama Said Knock You Out
$0.99
Its a good song, but I got it for working out and the beat just wasn't right for me.