Edward Said: The Dutch Interview

The late Edward Said‘s sparkling intelligence shines through in this Interview by Michaël Zeeman for the Dutch television programme ‘Leven en Werken’, VPRO in 2000. Quoting Said “At bottom, the intellectual, in my sense of the word, is neither a pacifier nor a consensus-builder, but someone whose whole being is staked on a critical sense, a sense of being unwilling to accept easy formulas of ready-made clichés, or the smooth, ever-so-accommodating confirmations of what the powerful or conventional have to say and what they do. Not just passively unwillingly, but actively willing to say so in public.” Edward Said remains an inspiration.

 

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Choy
Choy
11 years ago

It remains to be seen what Said’s true legacy is – this interview provides good insights into his mind. Thank you.

yuolt
yuolt
11 years ago

needs patience, but well worth it.

Sumeira
Sumeira
11 years ago

Very jealous of all who had Ed Said as their teacher!

Dwipen
Dwipen
11 years ago

Sad that he is no more….the world needs more men of reason and intellect.

Colleen G
Colleen G
11 years ago

some bits of it got me smiling, he uses such appropriate expressions, wonderful to hear him. RIP

Sebastian
Sebastian
11 years ago

Here he seems to be a shadow of his former self, physically…one can see him straining for lack of strength and he mentions it as well…but what is clear is that he is one voice that is and will be missed for all time. RIP Mr. Said.

From Palestine
From Palestine
11 years ago

He was a tireless champion of the Palestine cause and he is missed.

Cecil
Cecil
11 years ago

Said was a very accomplished pianist as well…I find it fascinating the mix of music and scholarship.

Mubina
Mubina
11 years ago

Ed Said!! what else can i say. the voice of sanity in an insane world. thank you so much for this post.

Non White and Proud
Non White and Proud
11 years ago

He is probably the most overlooked intellectual of the twentieth c. The world is not white, not caucasian, not Europe and USA. Its a larger world.