By Emily Gonzalez
This text was challenging due to the level of complexity in the sentences as well as the use of background information such as European ideologists and their theories. As a history buff, the incorporation of history kept me engaged. For me, it was really interesting to listen to Said’s opinion on how Western civilizations undermined the civilization of the east and how people in “power,” such as Arthur James Balfour and Evelyn Baring, 1st Earl of Cromer, used the idea of power and knowledge as a means to justify their undermining of these “oriental” countries. I found the part where Balfour and Cromer’s idea of knowledge and power influenced the social climate at the time important. I also found it interesting how in the excerpt for Ernest and this, there is an underlying idea of the “white man’s burden” and how it plays a role in the interpretation of the East. I am understanding how Arthur James Balfour and Evelyn Baring, 1st Earl of Cromer, used the concepts of “knowledge” and “power” to justify their ideals of European imperialism and the “white man’s burden”. This is extremely important to me, especially because it is one of the main points analyzed in this anecdote, and this helps me further understand what drove European countries to colonize. Said’s acknowledgment that the West’s understanding of the east came from the translation of texts like Sanskrit, Zend, and Arabic reminded me of how Ernst acknowledges that these preconceived notions regarding middle-easterners are a result of translation. In addition to this, both authors talk about how the fascination of these eastern texts allows for romanization and enables these preconceptions to be spread throughout western media. I had to re-read this article twice, and I am still a little confused. I think this may be due to the fact that I’m not as well versed in the topic of colonization in the East. I definitely found this text interesting.
