The Epistemology of Edward Said

Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor. (Seminar) In the tenth anniversary of Edward Said’s death, the implications of his thought are more relevant than ever.  This is a course that attempts to chart the multifarious parameter’s of Said’s thought with an eye toward examining his particular mode of knowledge.  Said would not approve the word ” epistemology” in the same way that he objected to systematic, canonical, or dogmatic thinking.  However, close attention to the trajectory of his writing — in all its forms: literary and cultural criticism, political journalism, musical writings, memoirs, interviews, belles lettres essays — as well as the enormous linguistic and geographical range of his interests, does in fact produce an image of heterogeneous but consistent, even if not systematic, mode of thinking.  Said was expressly aware of the politics of knowledge, as well as committed to the broad pedagogical importance of this politics, so to chart the epistemological stakes of his thinking in retrospect is an essential way of assessing his relevance in the contemporary world. The readings in this course will consist entirely of Said’s writings.  No secondary literature.  The pedagogical imperative is for students to encounter the work on its own terms — the work is rich and complex and deserves close attention.  In their writings they will be invited to bring in work by other authors and commentators.  The assignments will consist of an oral presentation and one term paper.  No incompletes will be allowed, except for on account of medical emergencies.