John M. Steadman

This book is not in my library and what I read was a hardcover, probably published in 1968, the same year Said's Orientalism was published. Guess what, this is by far the better book. Its point is that there is no single image of Asia but a number of often contradictory ones (eg. what could be more different than the stark Zen aesthetic of Japan and intricate Byzantine design?) that, in any case, the differences between us and them is exaggerated by comparing apples and oranges, reality and ideals, and so forth. If academia had any sense whatsoever, Steadman and not Said would be taught today. (See my Orientalism & Occidentalism for more of my opinions on matters like this)… (mehr)