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First You Must Unlearn What You Have Learned: Stereotypes and Orientalism

This exploration delves into the impact of stereotypes and Orientalism on perceptions of the Middle East. It examines how Western depictions of the "Orient" perpetuate biases and essentialize cultures. The work of al-Jāḥiẓ, a prominent 9th-century literary figure, serves as a focal point, prompting inquiries into how names, genealogies, and historical narratives shape our understanding. Engaging with theorists like Michel Foucault and Edward Said, the text questions what constitutes knowledge and truth while encouraging a more nuanced approach to history and literature regarding the Middle East.

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First You Must Unlearn What You Have Learned: Stereotypes and Orientalism

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  1. First You Must Unlearn What You Have Learned:Stereotypes and Orientalism HIST 1007 8/28/13

  2. Translation and Transliteration • Who can read this? الجاحظ من كبار ادباء القرن التاسع الميلادى

  3. Translation and Transliteration • Who can read this? al-Jāḥiẓ min kibārudabā’ al-qarn al-tāsi῾ mīlādiyya

  4. Translation and Transliteration • الجاحظ من كبار ادباء القرن التاسع الميلادى • al-Jāḥiẓ min kibārudabā’ al-qarn al-tāsi῾ mīlādiyya • al-Jahiz was one of the great literary figures of the ninth century A.D.

  5. But which transliteration is right? • محمد • Muhammad • Mohammad • Mahommed • Mohamed • Mahomet • Mehmet

  6. But which transliteration is right? • مرو • Marw • Merw • Marv • Merv • Mary

  7. What’s in a name? • Genealogy • Rob ibn John ibn Joseph ibn Longinus ibn… • Laura bint Gary ibn Henry ibn James… • Abu Rob John ibn Joseph • Umm Rob Margaret bint Lloyd

  8. What’s in a name? • nisba • Location • Rob ash-Shikaguwi • Rob as-Sinsinnatiwi • Rob al-Mishigani • Occupation • Rob al-Ustadh • Rob al-Mu’arrikh • Notable Traits • Rob al-Jamil

  9. What’s in a Name? • Can anyone tell me what al-Jahiz’s full name means? Abu ‘Uthman `Amr b. Bahr al-Kinani al-Basri al-Jahiz

  10. What’s in a Name? • Then there are titles… • Salah al-Din Yusuf b. Ayyub • Abu Ja`far `Abdallah b. Muhammad al-Mansur

  11. Stereotypes and Prejudices • When I say “Middle East,” what’s the first thing that pops in your head? • Where do these ideas come from? • Are they useful in approaching the history of the Middle East? • Are they useful in discussing the modern Middle East?

  12. Michel Foucault and Edward Said

  13. Foucault – Archaeology of Knowledge • Information + Power = Truth • Is there any such thing as absolute truth? • How do we know if something is true? • How does something become true?

  14. Said - Orientalism • The study, depiction, and reproduction of “the Orient” by Westerners. • Objectification • Said – patronizing Western attitude towards the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. • Essentializessocieties as static and undeveloped. • Implies that the West is developed, rational, and superior.

  15. Orientalism • How do Foucault and Said explain our attitudes towards the Middle East? • What should we do to improve our knowledge of the Middle East? • What does that mean for this class?

  16. Reading Primary Sources • How do you read a text? • What information do you need to know before you can analyze a text? • What does a text actually tell you?

  17. Primary Sources • “On Levantine Immigrants in Rome” • “Saying Attributed to the Prophet” • “A Persian View of the World,” “An Iraqi View,” and “View from Jerusalem” • “Another Arab View” and “Another Persian View” • “On Subjugation” and “A Consumer’s Guide to Servants” • “Literary Stereotypes”to the bottom of page 11 • “Literary Stereotypes” from the bottom of page 11 • “Some Religious Prejudices” • “And Some Political Judgments” to the bottom of page 14 • “And Some Political Judgments” page 15 • “Five British Views of the Arabs” page 16 • “Five British Views of the Arabs” page 17 • “Five British Views” page 18 and “And Some American Prejudices” page 18 • “And Some American Prejudices” page 19-20

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