This lecture investigates the historical and sociological construction of the 'East' as a conceptual space within Western academic and cultural discourse. Michael Gilsenan, a noted scholar in Middle Eastern studies, utilizes his inaugural address to examine how European observers historically projected their own anxieties and desires onto Eastern urban landscapes. He argues that these 'imagined cities' serve as mirrors for Western identity rather than accurate reflections of the societies they claim to represent.

Scholars in the field of Middle Eastern studies recognize this lecture as a concise, critical intervention into the discourse surrounding Orientalism. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which assumes a foundational knowledge of post-colonial theory and historical sociology.