postcolonial studies, and his work has significantly influenced fields across the humanities: including cultural studies, anthropology, comparative literature and political science.
Colonialism as a concept, and also remembering that the way we chose to record history and remember stories have an effect on so many different fields of study. The way we interpret, and what is accepted by society, at a present time is vital in understanding the whole picture of something.
Said linked the experience of being at once an insider and an outsider
The terms "insider" and "outsider" feel important to me. I think that Edward Said describing his experiences and telling his story gives those with different experiences a new viewpoint into the true divides still in our society.
thus positioning themselves as objective authorities
This being true history and something that really did happen is just overall upsetting. People's histories and stories were taken from them, and their own narratives were told by others. These "scholars" really had the audacity to grant themselves with great importance and strong authority. I think it's important to note as well that their findings were definitely biased, and I'm sure they did not look into many things that they weren't personally interested in. I believe this history should be more well-known, and artifacts should be returned.
parodying the unsettling mystique attributed to Middle Eastern women.
This specific phrase stood out to me because there is a focus on the women, and how women specifically can be portrayed in very unrealistic ways. Women are judged by really any style of clothing they choose to wear, as there seems to be no "correct way" to dress, whether it's to "too much" clothing or "too little."