What's so bad about orientalism?Why is it bad to depict eastern cultures as exotic and mysterious?Obviously it has roots in colonialism but it doesnt seem as bad as academics make it out to be
>>18443876Most of the time its just westerners projecting their most inner desires. Like being subservient to women and banging dudes
>>18443961That's hot though, and I agree with it. When Asia was our plaything that's when we had the most fun. What would you rather do?>Work 18 hours in Mr. Smith's factory making widgets>Get on a steam ship as a soldier, merchant, or explorer and visit ancient and distant lands, have sex with their exotic women, extract their valuable resources for profit, and bring back cool souvenirs for your family.I know what I would have done, and still what I would do. Jesus, if you can hear us, we're sorry. Give us our empires back.
>>18443876>Why is it bad to depict eastern cultures as exotic and mysterious?It's not. Orientalism was an art and literary movement and subgenre that only died with the adoption of mass communication and globalism that make the Far East less mysterious and more transparent to western audiences so it simply fell out of flavor. The groups wanting to return to Orientalism probably have some overlap with the New Sincerity crowd and perhaps even a bit of the Bohemian crowd to because ultimately it's about returning to a more naive time in western culture
>>18443876It degrades and distorts knowledge of the middle east into abstracted fantasy, that is the general thesis. Also, Orientalism wasn't just an artistic movement. It was also a scientific field of study. And it is that orientalism that receives the bulk of the criticism.That said, the mystery and exoticism of the orient is only the most surface level of it. Deeper is the essentialization of the orient as an inherently static and backwards thing (presumably in opposition to the most enlightened occident), it's alineation from wider humanity into something inherently different form its opposite, etc.But >>18443961 isn't even wrong. A lot of fantasy went into it too.
>>18443961nice fantasy, achmed, no one buys it>>18443876eastoids are incredibly self-conscious
>>18444426The term "gone native" exists for a reason anon. British and other European travelers being enticed by Persian and Indian culture. But I'm sure you know better than the people who actually experienced it of course.
>>18444457London was an incredibly filthy place. I can understand why British soldiers would fuck Indian women in spite the disgusting smell of poo emanating from their skin.
>>18444461Anything else?
>>18444462Mmm, nope. I said enough racist things for today. I'm satisfied.
>>18444024thanks makes more sense now. what did the field of study involve?
Orientalism was gigabasado and I'm tired of pretending otherwise
>>18444024>it's alineation from wider humanity into something inherently different form its opposite, etc."Wider humanity" is gay af. We have "wider humanity" right now with globalization making every place the same and it's boring and soulless
>>18444457I do!
>>18444471Well first of all philology, then history, antiquarianism, theology, anthropology, oriental languages like Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Urdu, Chinese, and Aramaic. Because this was in the 19th century, generalists were much more common back then than now. And Oriental studies technically still exists, but it has specialized to be specifically about the islamic world (it's often called Middle Eastern studies outside of Europe) and not just everything east of Vienna. They've gotten better since the nineteenth century.
>>18445140right so just general studies of the orient. i definitely get how it was dehumanizing and reductive but being perceived that way doesnt come off as entirely negative to meas an arab id be more concerned about the modern form of it where everyone thinks youre a backwards maniac that wants to nuke people
>>18443876>orientalism
>>18445392Well in the 19th century they also thought you were a backwards maniac, just a sexy one
>>18443876There's nothing wrong with admiring foreign cultures. What's wrong is believing you're showing respect when you're actually doing a mockery of it, like the New Age Orientalists of the 80's and such. If you're going to "betray" your own culture for a foreign one, at least do it properly, don't "McDonalize" it.
>>18445783Why should you not mock foreign cultures?
>>18443876It's just thirdie seethe
Brown libtard victimhood politics A self hating white lib or a muslim can go on a tangent about how medieval europe was evil and backwards but god forbid euros take interest in non white culturesAs a punishment now muslims are known for inbreeding and tap dancing for israel instead of alladin and indians are known as street shitters instead of wise gurus
