Edward Said & Salman Rushdie [1986]

In 1986, Edward Said and Salman Rushdie sat down to talk at the ICA. Professor Said launched his book After the Last Sky: Palestinian Lives at the ICA and discussed his and the collective Palestinian identity, exile, return and the right to return. Much of what they discussed played out the following year, during the First Intifada. Reshared on Monday 15 May 2023. Time stamps: 00:00 - Intro by Salman Rushdie 03:13 - Rushdie reads ’The Earth is closing on us’ 04:34 - The first part of Said’s book 05:46 - The Palestinian experience 07:49 - Part two of Said’s book; inside/outside 08:45 - Inside Palestinian-ness 09:28 - Cult of physical strength; a letter 11:02 - Invasions of the interior 12:15 - Zionism and historical context 12:50 - Part three: Exile 13:25 - What happens to landless people? 17:00 - Palestinians in New York 19:12 - Ability to publish work in US 20:21 - Treated like a diplomat of terrorism 22:25 - To be a NYC Pales