Said understands the orient as an idea that has a history and a tradition of thought, imagery, and vocabulary that have given it reality and presence in and for the west rather than as an actually existing reality. in other words, said sees orientalism as mostly a mode of what?

Said sees Orientalism mostly as a mode of representation.

Explanation:

According to Palestinian-American academic and author Edward Said (1935-2003), the concept of Orientalism mainly refers to a mode of representation of Middle-Eastern or Arab-Muslim countries and cultures structured by racist and Eurocentric prejudices and assumptions. Broadly speaking, Said believes that throughout history, Western leaders, politicians, intellectuals, historians and writers (among other social actors) have created and maintained prejudiced narratives about "the Orient" and engaged with these conceptions rather than with the actual realities and traits of the nations and peoples inhabiting the East. For example, following Said's theory, by portraying Arabs and Muslims as primitive savages in both academia and literature, Western countries intent on conquering Eastern territories--like British colonialists in the nineteenth century--were able to "justify" their invasion on the grounds that they were supposedly bringing "enlightenment" and "civilization" to "heathen" and "irrational" peoples. Said explored and presented these ideas in his foundational book Orientalism, published in 1978.

true