Edward Said

Date of Birth: November 1, 1935

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: September 25, 2003

Biography

Edward Wadie Said was a Palestinian-American professor of literature, a public intellectual, and a founder of the academic field of postcolonial studies. Born in Jerusalem in 1935, Said spent his early years in the Middle East, primarily in Egypt, before moving to the United States for higher education. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and his Ph.D. from Harvard University. Said is best known for his 1978 book “Orientalism,” a seminal work that critiques the Western study of Eastern cultures. The book argues that Western perceptions and depictions of the East are deeply rooted in colonialism and serve to reinforce Western superiority. This work laid the foundation for postcolonial theory and has had a profound impact on various academic fields, including literary criticism, cultural studies, and Middle Eastern studies. Throughout his career, Said was a passionate advocate for Palestinian rights and served as a member of the Palestine National Council from 1977 to 1991. He was also a prolific writer, publishing numerous books, essays, and articles on topics ranging from literature and music to politics and culture. Said taught at Columbia University for many years, where he was the University Professor of English and Comparative Literature. In addition to his academic work, Said was an accomplished pianist and music critic, often collaborating with renowned conductor Daniel Barenboim. Together, they founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, which brings together young musicians from Israel, Palestine, and other Arab countries to promote cultural dialogue and understanding.

5 Interesting Facts about Edward Said

1. Edward Said was fluent in multiple languages, including English, French, and Arabic.

2. “Orientalism” has been translated into more than 36 languages and remains a key text in the field of postcolonial studies.

3. Said was an accomplished pianist and often wrote music criticism for various publications.

4. He co-founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra with Daniel Barenboim in 1999, aiming to foster dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian musicians.

5. Said was awarded the prestigious Bowdoin Prize by Harvard University for the best dissertation in the humanities.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Edward Said

1. “Every empire, however, tells itself and the world that it is unlike all other empires, that its mission is not to plunder and control but to educate and liberate.”

2. “Humanism is the only – I would go so far as saying the final – resistance we have against the inhuman practices and injustices that disfigure human history.”

3. “Criticism, as I understand it, is nothing more than a state of enlightened discontent.”

4. “Exile is strangely compelling to think about but terrible to experience.”

5. “The Orient and Islam have a kind of extrareal, phenomenologically reduced status that puts them out of reach of everyone except the Western expert.”