The Orientalism Debates: Genealogy and Critique is the first in a series of introductory courses designed to help students navigate concepts in social theory. Aimed at a broad audience—including scholars, students, and the general public—the course invites a wide range of participants to engage with one of the generative debates in the humanities and social sciences.
It offers a rigorous yet accessible conceptual overview of Orientalism, emphasizing how it has served as a critical framework for interpreting socio-political realities across diverse contexts. The course traces its evolution from classical formulations to contemporary reconfigurations, developing the conceptual tools necessary to grasp how Orientalism operates as discourse, structure, and mode of power.
Participants will explore themes such as Legal Orientalism, Black Orientalism, Post-Orientalism and the intersections of Orientalism with literature, knowledge, and empire. Special attention is given to its formations in South Asia, offering insights into deep connections with colonialism and power dynamics in postcolonial societies. Taking a multifaceted approach, the course enables critical engagement with some of the most exciting and significant developments in contemporary thought.