爱德华.W.萨义德是世界公认的后殖民主义理论家和文化批评家之一,他在《东方学》与《文化与帝国主义》等著作中通过分析、解读福楼拜、康拉德等人的一系列著名理论著作、历史书籍以及小说来批判本质主义的文化观。在批判本质主义文化的同时他也建构并展现了自己的反本质的文化观,主张文化应当是异质的、多元的、包容的混成体。萨义德的这种文化观对于揭露和抵抗以西方支配东方为主的各种文化霸权有着重要的意义,给人们理解历史、认识社会等提供了新的视角。但是,也存在如未能摆脱“西方中心主义”的种种缺陷。 Edward W. Said, one of the most recognized post-colonial theorists and cultural critics in the world, analyzes and interprets Flaubert and Conrad in such works as Orientalism and Culture and Imperialism A series of famous theoretical works, historical books and novels to criticize the essentialist view of culture. While criticizing essentialist culture, he also constructs and displays his own anti-essential cultural view, arguing that culture should be heterogeneous, pluralistic and inclusive. Said’s view of culture is of great significance for exposing and resisting various cultural hegemony dominated by the West and orienting the East and provides a new perspective for people to understand history and recognize society. However, there are also some shortcomings such as failure to get rid of “Western-centrism.”