‘Faut-Il Brûler L’Orientalisme?’
On French Scholarship of North Africa
Abdelmajid Hannoum
Cultural Dynamics, Vol. 16, No. 1, 71-91 (2004)
Abstract
This article discusses the specificity of French Orientalism on North Africa and shows how in its divide and rule policy, French colonialism constructed a discourse that opposes the Oriental Arab to the European Berber. It argues that French Orientalism, the bulk of knowledge that has been built in the context of colonization, though it has changed through time, continues to operate today both in the discourse of the former colonized and that of the former colonizer. In addition, the article draws the attention to the important fact that knowledge is not only a means of control and governance for the colonial machine, but it also contains categories by which imaginaries are shaped and colonial relations and attitudes are perpetuated.
Key Words: Algeria • French colonialism • knowledge • Middle East • Orientalism
2 comments:
There is a good book on this topic, usually called the "Kabyle myth" in English, called Imperial Identities by Patricia Lorcin. You may find it interesting:
http://www.amazon.com/Imperial-Identities-Stereotyping-Prejudice-Colonial/dp/1860643760/sr=1-1/qid=1168394461/ref=sr_1_1/105-2147942-2358027?ie=UTF8&s=books
Hi knl,
I'm familiar with Lorcin's book. Excellent!
Abdelmajid Hannoum is the author of THE LEGEND OF THE KAHINA, A NORTH AFRICAN HEROINE
If you get a chance, read it. I believe it is the best book on the subject of Kahina.
Take care.
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