Vintage Books: Vintage International Edition. Orientalism can be characterized as a positive concept that highlights the role of the Orient in the life of the West (Said 203). Thesis statement: The continuing effects that Orientalism has on today’s society include the effects on attitudes, image and knowledge reflected in different social activities, such as art, literature, music, political decisions and gender politics. Importantly, when the West is the standard against which the Orient is defined, the Orient cannot, by definition, be a point of empathy. Orientalism is not “to mock East Asian cultures”, although it can certainly contribute to or culminate in the mockery of East Asian cultures. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! According to historians, the works of Orientalists embraced oriental expression and inspiration, which were reflected in the cross-cultural influences of artists (Merryfield & Subedi 285). While Algerian women are portrayed in these photographs as if the camera is capturing a real moment in their everyday lives, the women are actually set up in the photographer’s studio. Based on the works of Orientalist artists, such as Henriette Browne and others, and the literary works of many authors, such as Jorge Eliot and others, it is possible to “challenge masculinist assumptions relating to the stability and homogeneity of the Orientalist gaze” (Lewis 1). The link between the construction of Orientalism and contemporary politics is clearly referred to in the book: To achieve the established goal, it is necessary to discuss a number of issues, such as the background information about Orientalism, the key definitions of the term, some facts from the history of Orientalism, and American Orientalism and its effects on American Society. Second, the term “orientalism” refers to the discipline, which involves the study of Eastern culture, religions, traditions and languages (Kontye 56). Leon Belly. Most European immigrants had their individual views about the Eastern philosophy characterizes the Eastern civilization as “more decadent, exotic, and immoral” (Leong 7). Now, don’t get me wrong: it’s not as if Air France is lynching people with their advertisements. The mother’s name is Bander. The debate over orientalism continues in the United States, especially after the events of 9/11. Electronic Inspiration LLC. The Orientalist views were found in the functioning of missionaries, diplomacy, business organizations, as well as the media (Leong 7). Recent studies point out to the fact that Orientalism is in crisis today because of the “rise of national liberation movements, which brought an end to the age of colonial domination” (Netton 261). Orientalism is a unique concept that has been widely discussed in academic literature. In America, when Chinese coolies are lynched, the act is justified by the perception of Chinese men as physically weak, economically invasive, and culturally barbaric. In the street of Cairo at the World's Fair there was exhibited the peculiar manners of the Egyptians, and a veiled lady was of course one of the curious objects displayed, though she did not always appear in that unsightly disguise, thus proving that she was not a slave to this requirement of all Mohammodan [sic] women.” Buel, James W. The Magic City. SitemapCopyright © 2005 - 2020 ProProfs.com. Orientalism requires specific knowledge of people, […] Orientalism is the distinction between the West and the East. The effect of Orientalism on knowledge is crucial to the understanding of some political and philosophical concepts associated with the Orient.