Comments on: A warning to Writers: post-colonialism as opium

By: Postcolonial Piffle « A History of the Universe

Postcolonial Piffle « A History of the Universe — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:59:00 +0000

[...] Postcolonial theory is a wonderful thing. Now and again, and I mention no names Ali Eteraz, clumsy-headed pundits crudely dismiss PT as “methodological masturbation”, or [...]

By: Samuel Fry

Samuel Fry — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:39:53 +0000

Pure literature? What is that?

By: GlobalComment » Mark Seal on Kenya in Vanity Fair: Bad Implications and Dead Ends

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:23:19 +0000

[...] Criticism should serve a purpose. Simply picking apart a work might get one a pat on the back from academia, but what’s the point [...]

By: ram-ar

ram-ar — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 10:20:11 +0000

I wonder what “intellectual output” should be… while pet-theories of professors indelible impress on eager students (and, after all, 98% of graduates are mediocre or petty or even non/anti-intellectuals) it is up to the students themselves to do something with the ‘impression’. to ask zygmunt bauman or frank furedi to take their theories down to the streets is a bit of a hypocritically outed astroturfing.

By: Buzz Kill

Buzz Kill — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:50:12 +0000

If Edward Said toyed with scholarly abstractions to explain peoples' lives, Bernard Lewis is the master and deserves (and received) the Black Hearted Medal of Honor for Deceit in subjugating Intellect on the Alter of Tyranny (an award John Yoo also richly deserves). Slate covered it well here

By: Eskandar

Eskandar — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 08:09:21 +0000

Ali you make many pertinent points. I myself have been frustrated by the sheer amount of intellectual masturbation which claims itself as a ‘radical’ antidote to the status quo and as a substite for activism.

But the life of Edward Said for me as for many others acts as an exemplar of the engaged intellectual. He managed to brilliantly meld ‘high theory’ with counterhegemonic discourse of ‘talking to power’. He was involved in the Palestinian struggle but realised the merits of a humanistic and critical consciousness from outside the political fray. In this way he was never coopted and compromised by the allure of political power like many other engaged intellectuals who at one time or another turned their attention to politcs, such as Regis Debray and Malraux. In fact Said’s final work is on the topic of humanism and his intellectual forbears Vico, Gramsci, and Conrad etc… all arguably come directly out of the humanist tradition.

By: Patrick Rivenbark

Patrick Rivenbark — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:00:11 +0000

This general idea, as I understand it, has been a big problem of mine ever since going to college…the idea of ‘mental masturbation’ is right on…

However, I think that they serve a purpose…I know I have personally been inspired and motivated by literature on various subjects, whether it be related to politics, economics, race relations, etc. While i feel much of academia is content with being able to write another essay or discuss a theory a feel like they have done something, there are plenty of potential benefits to the idea of pure ‘food for thought’, if you will. many people get new perspective, new thought, and it changes the way they live their lives. perhaps in the way you are suggesting people should go about change.

Rarely do i think people over the ages have done much more than regurgitate what they already know and critique what already has been. That is why the great figures of history (know or yet unknown) are so rare. Real change comes about by people willing to make that change in other people, which is why I like your premise. However, I think you are a bit premature to judge the static nature of contemporary thought. You simply do not know what tomorrow brings. (and personally i think the reason why Yokoub gave such a fierce critique).

in the end, if we just continue to have this discussion on a blog, we are no better. All I can say is that in the end, I do believe we need a bigger emphasis on real people instead of idea. I hope to do my part and inspire others along the way.

By: nk

nk — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:05:03 +0000

Excellent piece. You don’t need to agree with every word of the piece, but I enjoyed it tremendously because it highlights the overall static nature of thought in some academic circles and how this impedes intellectual output. Something that sadly prevails in the Arab and Muslim worlds. Yacoub, what on earth are you on about??

By: Post-colonialist theory as opium « Indistinct Union

Post-colonialist theory as opium « Indistinct Union — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:43:30 +0000

[...] April 12, 2008 Post-colonialist theory as opium Posted by cjsmith under Christianity, Foreign Development, Hermeneutics, Integral, Politics | Tags: ali eteraz, integral theory, post-colonialism | So argue-eth Ali Eteraz. Take a look, it’s worth the read. [...]

By: Natalia Antonova

Natalia Antonova — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 11:09:52 +0000

Geez, Yakoub! But tell us how you really feel!

Well, anyway, how’s it going? How come you’re never at MWU anymore? I’m still around…

P.S. As editor, I am supposed to hold back my opinion, but I have to say that this piece actually helped me recognize my own anxities in regards to academia. I’ll have to say that it’s not for everyone (academia, that is).