Introduction
Different types of art, literature, and other creative pieces often draw inspiration from real life and are shaped by the events surrounding their authors. The history of imperialism and its political influence also influences the works of people from all parts of the world. In the Introduction and Chapter One of his book, Culture and Imperialism, Edward Said presents a discussion about the connections between imperialism, literature, and real-life events. The Introduction summarizes the author’s ideas and literary works that will be analyzed in more detail throughout the essays.
Analysis
In Chapter One, Said (1994) argues that the past is connected to the present, and the two cannot be viewed separately. Similarly, the issues of colonialism cannot be regarded from one side – the author introduces contrapuntal analysis as a means of analyzing literary works from the side of both the imperialist and the colonized. The thesis of these chapters is that there exists an inseparable relationship between culture and empire, present and past, and these concepts should be interpreted in literature with complexity.
The points that Said makes in the book are interesting, and I support many of his statements. For instance, the author highlights the growth of imperialism in the Western world and its impact on culture, both within and outside this region (Said 1994). It can be argued that the statistics that Said provides demonstrate the effect of imperialism on the entire world, shaping not only political but also cultural aspects of society. Furthermore, this thesis about the interconnectedness of the past and present is logical, as history develops based on the previous experiences and conclusions that people make from them.
Another interesting point that Said (1994) raises is that the interpretations of the past may vary substantially. He provides an example of the Gulf War and the opinions of the two sides, the United States and Iraq. This comparison of positions is complex, as the two parties believe they are fair and justified in their actions, thereby creating a dilemma that necessitates a thorough examination of colonialism and conflict.
As mentioned previously, Said proposes contrapuntal analysis to investigate similar situations in literature. This methodology is based on the idea that each text written about or within the setting of imperialism contains views from both sides (Said 1994). This methodology can be applied in other disciplines, where two opposing opinions must be considered to construct a comprehensive picture of the events (Scharp and Thomas, 2019).
This dialogic system can be a powerful tool for examining art pieces and the creators’ biographies, as it demonstrates the profound impact of imperialism on people’s lives. In the case of Conrad, the author of Heart of Darkness, Said (1994) notes that the writer, while creating a work from an anti-imperialist perspective, still contributes to imperial systems after immigrating to England. Thus, by using contrapuntal analysis, a critic gains the ability to deconstruct the links between the present work and the past of the community which it describes.
Conclusion
To conclude, the opening chapters of Culture and Imperialism outline the central ideas and concepts that recur throughout the book. Said presents his view of history and imperialism as complicated and multifaceted. He also argues that both sides of the conflict should be considered to gain a complete understanding of the circumstances. To achieve this result, Said employs contrapuntal analysis, which appears to be an effective tool for exploring literature about imperialism. Overall, upon learning about this methodology and Said’s views on culture, I find that my position aligns with many of his points in the chapters I have read.
References
Said, Edward W. 1994. Culture and Imperialism. New York: Vintage Books.
Scharp, K. M., & Thomas, L. J. 2019. “Disrupting the Humanities and Social Science Binary: Framing Communication Studies as a Transformative Discipline.” Review of Communication, 19(2): 147–163.