What is Orientalism?

What is Orientalism? Where did it come from? And why does it still matter today? In this video, we explore the history of Orientalism — from medieval travel tales and Renaissance art to colonial-era paintings, literature, and Hollywood films. Inspired by Edward Said’s landmark 1978 book, this documentary-style explainer uncovers how the West has portrayed the East for centuries — and how those images shaped politics, culture, and identity. Chapters: 0:00 Intro — What is Orientalism? 1:10 Origins in Medieval Europe 3:05 Orientalism in the Age of Empire 5:20 Hollywood and Pop Culture 7:00 Why Orientalism Matters Today #Orientalism #EdwardSaid #HistoryOfArt #ColonialHistory #MiddleEast #AsianHistory #ArtHistory #CulturalStudies Sources & Reading: Edward Said, Orientalism (1978) Rana Kabbani, Europe’s Myths of the Orient Lisa Lowe, Critical Terrains: French and British Orientalism. note: images used in videos are taken from common domains.