Edward said and critical decolonization.Three years ago, we planned to devote the entire issue of Alif 25 (to be published in 2005) to Edward Said Edward Wadie Saïd, Arabic: إدوارد وديع سعيد, , in recognition of his intellectual stature and on the occasion of his seventieth birthday. We had agreed to have an extensive interview with him for this special issue, but it never took place: Said passed away in September 2003. His legacy will continue and persist, and we hope this issue will contribute to the dissemination of Said's thought. This issue of Alif strives to cover the multi-faceted career of Said, with emphasis on his critical contribution to decolonization decolonization Process by which colonies become independent of the colonizing country. Decolonization was gradual and peaceful for some British colonies largely settled by expatriates but violent for others, where native rebellions were energized by nationalism. and resistance to hegemony. There are moving testimonies by friends and relatives, students and colleagues, which throw light on his personality. An article by Said on the idea of the University is published for the first time in the English section of this issue, in addition to two of his articles which appear for the first time in Arabic translation in the Arabic section. The issue also includes academic articles exploring in depth Said's political, critical, and aesthetic positions-including his views on the Palestinian question and exile, on Orientalism and representation, on intellectuals and secular criticism, on traveling theory, music, and humanism humanism, philosophical and literary movement in which man and his capabilities are the central concern. The term was originally restricted to a point of view prevalent among thinkers in the Renaissance. . Said's thought is explored in order to understand him better and to engage with his ideas contrapuntally. Several articles in this issue look into the relation of Said to other major thinkers: Marx, Freud, Gramsci, Adorno, Vico, Eqbal Ahmad Eqbal Ahmad (1933/34 - May 11, 1999) was a Pakistani writer, journalist, and anti-war activist. He was strongly critical of the Middle East strategy of the United States as well as what he saw as the "twin curse" of nationalism and religious fanaticism in such countries as Pakistan. , Frantz Fanon Frantz Fanon (July 20, 1925 – December 6, 1961) was an author from Martinique, essayist, psychoanalyst, and revolutionary. He was perhaps the preeminent thinker of the 20th century on the issue of decolonization and the psychopathology of colonization. , Michel Foucault Michel Foucault (IPA pronunciation: [miˈʃɛl fuˈko]) (October 15, 1926 – June 25, 1984) was a French philosopher, historian and sociologist. , Chinua Achebe, among others. Contributors to this issue come from different parts of the world, from Japan to Mexico, and from Egypt to India. This diversity becomes Said who crossed geographical and disciplinary borders to become an intellectual of the world, speaking on behalf of the voiceless. Alif, a refereed multilingual journal appearing annually in the spring, presents articles in Arabic, English, and occasionally French. The different traditions and languages confront and complement each other in its pages. Each issue includes and welcomes original articles. The next issues will center on the following themes: Alif 26: Wanderlust: Travel Literature. Alif 27: Reception Aesthetics: The Child as Addressee (communications) addressee - One to whom something is addressed. E.g. "The To, CC, and BCC headers list the addressees of the e-mail message". Normally an addressee will eventually be a recipient, unless there is a failure at some point (an e-mail "bounces") or the message is . Alif 28: Artistic Adaptations: Approaches and Positions. |
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