Edward Said
Date: 1935 - 2003
Region: Middle East
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Literature
Artist: Edward Said
Confronting Bodies: Israeli government officials, Yasser Arafat
Dates of Action: 1980's and onward
Location: West Bank and Gaza Strip
Description of Artwork: Said is most well known for his work on the subject of Orientalism, which discusses the scope through which the West views the East (Mainly Islamic cultures). He has also written many critical pieces on how the US Media portrays Palestinians and is, himself, a strong supporter of Palestine's struggle against Israel.
The Incident: Israeli censorship laws placed Said's titles on a list of prohibited books as they were seen as threats to "public order." He has been dubbed a "Professor of Terror" and dangerous to Israel.
Although he worked closely with Said, Yasser Arafat also had some of his essays confiscated for being critical of agreements Arafat made with Israel.
Results of Incident: Said died in 2003, but remains a controversial figure over his stance on the conflicts in Israel and his criticism of US involvement in the Middle East.
Source: Censorship: A World Encyclopedia. Ed. Derek Jones. Chicago; London: Fitzroy Dearborn, 2001. [[Category:1980s