Orientalisms and Occidentalisms: Evolution of Concepts and Divergence of Connotations By Ingrid Khashab

https://www.academia.edu/89710249/Orientalisms_and_Occidentalisms_Evolution_of_Concepts_and_Divergence_of_Connotations?nav_from=4ed10827-f360-4821-8d20-e0bbe62646a9 During the most part of its long history, the term ‘Orientalism’ has had several interrelated meanings with neutral or positive connotations, some of which are still preserved, for instance, in art, architecture, design, and music, where it refers to Oriental influences and works inspired by Oriental themes and sounds rather attractive and romantic. As an academic term, it was used to denote the European tradition of Asian studies, suggesting a thorough exploration of Eastern cultural heritage, in particular, languages, literature, and artifacts. After the publication of Edward Said’s Orientalism in 1978, the term gained new negative meanings, related to postcolonial theory where it denotes mainly the biased, haughty attitude of the West towards an essentialized East and manifestations of Western colonial discourse in literature, science, and politics, such as the justification of Western imperialism, colonialism, and racial discrimination. The redefinition of the term by postcoloni... ...