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blindmanbaldwin 's review for:
Culture and Imperialism
by Edward W. Said
Said uses a variety of fiction and nonfiction literatures spanning centuries to chronicle the beginnings and evolutions of imperialist thought, while also countering or contrasting it with literature from the colonized land. Its ending chapters on the United States's position as the modern hegemon/empire that are its most relevant — particularly given the American right descending into 19th century imperialist thought — that position the English language's transition into the global technical language (through first the United Kingdom then the United States) has hollowed its cultural capacity, or at least study/critique/analysis of its cultural capacity.
"Culture and Imperialism" shows the necessity for new ways of thinking born out of the past, and not simply putting the old ways in new colors. Said highlights the distinction between liberation and nationalism, and how nationalism eventually supersedes the former to create a new "empire" — though at a smaller scale — which does not create real revolution.
In order to create this relationship between past and present imperial thought, Said uses canonical English language authors such as Austen to show use of imperialism in these works while also showing contemporary criticism (to an extent) shown in works by authors such as Conrad. Said parallels the development of the novel as a form with developments in imperial thought, and the force of the exoticism element of imperialism in shaping culture.
"Culture and Imperialism" shows the necessity for new ways of thinking born out of the past, and not simply putting the old ways in new colors. Said highlights the distinction between liberation and nationalism, and how nationalism eventually supersedes the former to create a new "empire" — though at a smaller scale — which does not create real revolution.
In order to create this relationship between past and present imperial thought, Said uses canonical English language authors such as Austen to show use of imperialism in these works while also showing contemporary criticism (to an extent) shown in works by authors such as Conrad. Said parallels the development of the novel as a form with developments in imperial thought, and the force of the exoticism element of imperialism in shaping culture.