Explain and illustrate the influence of post-colonialism on Edward Said.
Introduction to Culture and Imperialism is a notable literary work by Edward Said. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Introduction to Culture and Imperialism.
Answer
Explain and illustrate the influence of post-colonialism on Edward Said. [NU: 2021] Or, What is the influence of post-colonialism on Edward Said? [NU: 2017]
Edward W. Said (1935–2003) was a great thinker. He was born in Jerusalem, Palestine. He lived and worked in the United States. He was a professor of English and Comparative Literature. His book “Culture and Imperialism” (1993) studies how imperialism shaped modern culture. Post-colonial thought had a deep influence on Said. It helped him explore the empire through literature. Let us discuss this in detail.
Theoretical Frame: Post-colonialism is a way to study power. It focuses on colonialism and its after-effects. It shows how empires shaped knowledge systems. It also studies how culture supports control. Post-colonial thinkers speak for colonized people. They break the silence imposed by the empire. They look into history, language, and identity. Edward Said is a key post-colonial voice. His work follows this critical path closely. It seeks the truth behind colonial representations.
Blocking Other Narratives: A fundamental idea in post-colonialism is voice. Colonizers often block native voices entirely. They replace them with imperial stories. Said powerfully explains this:
“The power to block other narratives from forming and emerging is very important…”
This quote shows how empires dominate memory. They stop others from telling their history. Said wanted to bring back those voices. He saw novels as tools of silence. His post-colonial lens helped him study this.
Culture as a Field of Power: Said believed culture is never innocent. It reflects deeper political and social forces. Culture can support or resist the empire. He described culture as a place of struggle. In his words:
“Culture is a sort of theater where various political and ideological causes engage one another.”
This shows how empires use culture as control. Post-colonial thought supports this view. It helps scholars read culture with suspicion. Said used this idea in many chapters.
Judgment and Representation in Empire: Post-colonialism studies how people are judged. Colonizers made themselvesUnlock this study guide now