Saturday, April 12, 2008
The New York Room, Cooper Hall
The College at Brockport

Alhough it has been challenged in various ways, the influence of Dr. Edward Said’s book Orientalism has outlived its author, touching both academics and activists by critiquing the relations of power that operate between East and West, and between Self and Other. This inter-disciplinary event will encourage reflection on what Edward Said did, what it has meant in academe and in the larger society, and how the questions he raised might be answered in the 21st century.

We have a very interesting array of panelists prepared, representing four nations and the disciplines of History, Comparative Literature, Art History, Sociology, Law and Gender Studies.

In addition, we are delighted to welcome Mrs. Raheel Raza as our keynote speaker. Mrs. Raza is a journalist and activist in the Toronto area, working on women’s issues and interfaith dialogue. A dynamic speaker who brings to the discussion a rich, practical background in matters of cross-cultural contact, she will be speaking about the impact on her career of the reevaluation of Muslim-Western relations brought about by the work of Dr.Said.

As part of this event, we invite attendees and presenters to join in a roundtable symposium. We hope this free-wheeling discussion of Said, Orientalism, and related topics will give all a chance to reflect on the issues raised by the conference in a more unstructured format.

This unusual event begins at 9:00 a.m. in the New York Room of Cooper Hall, on the campus of the College at Brockport. All are welcome. Admission is $5 for students and $10 for faculty/professionals. (The admission fee will be waived for members of the Brockport community.)

Sponsored by the College at Brockport Better Community GICD fund, the Department of History, the William C. Rock Endowment for Liberal Arts, and the School of Letters and Sciences.