Orientalism operates as both an academic discipline and a repository of cultural images

Evidence

Orientalism is the generic term that I have been employing to describe the Western approach to the Orient; Orientalism is the discipline by which the Orient was (and is) approached systematically, as a topic of learning, discovery, and practice. But in addition I have been using the word to designate that collection of dreams, images, and vocabularies available to anyone who has tried to talk about what lies east of the dividing line. These two aspects of Orientalism are not incongruent, since by use of them both Europe could advance securely and unmetaphorically upon the Orient. — Edward W. Said, Orientalism, 192

Categorization

• DEFINE: Said’s foundational two-part definition of Orientalism as discipline plus shared vocabulary — carries directly into later readings.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Edward W. Said, Orientalism, 192
• XREF: connects to: Orientalism expanded from scholarly practice to signify imperialist ideology