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by qqtt 1836 days ago
> Orientalism is the term coined for the Euro- or America-centric views of the Eastern Hemisphere

Somewhat ironically, the "Orientalism" you are referring to is an American-centric interpretation, which doesn't really have global acceptance as a theory. Orientalism was attempted to be redefined single handedly redefined in 1978 by an American professor (Edward Said with a book of the same name).

Notably, America is pretty unique in considering "oriental" an offensive term - Europe & elsewhere use the term freely without any negative connotations.

2 comments

> Europe & elsewhere use the term freely without any negative connotations.

You are wrong, some do, some don't. I would debate that its reduction is usage is because of the negative connotations, but let's leave it at that.

Edward Said has been hugely influential also in Europe's academia and intellectual discourse. I would also be astonished if there had been no influence in "the orient".

I'll go one step further against this idea that "oriental" is some offensive term. Where I am, smack dab in Asia, oriental is used without an issue, being included in the names of buildings and companies.

I'm betting that the "offensiveness" of the term, if it ever takes root here, would likely be a invasive American import than homegrown.

America used to export culture, now we just export outrage and microagressions.
> Europe & elsewhere use the term freely without any negative connotations.

that's not true - a friend of mine, an European academic in (east) Asian studies - told me the whole academic field in Europe considers the term outdated and incorrect.