Though controversial, I love Edward Said, Palestinian professor who wrote Orientalism in1978. I get his thesis completely: that Westerners do not understand Easterners because they gaze with an ‘orientalist’ gaze, meaning, upon people they believe to be culturally beneath them, and with an exoticized fascination which wishes not to honestly encounter an ‘other’ but to consume that other, and perhaps, as in colonialist history, to enslave.
I am, at times, an ‘orientalist’. I, too, wish to consume Middle Eastern exoticism, isn’t that what draws us to travel, to encounter the exotic? For example, while researching a potential trip to Morocco, inside my head I heard this dialogue:
Self 1: Look at all those Western hotels in Marrakech, if you think I’m staying at the “Marrakech Holiday Inn”…….
Self 2: Camels! Berbers! Kasbah! Fountains in dark courtyards! Drifting sands at sunset!
Self 1: So do I want to be a “capitalist exporter of westernization” and stay at the Holiday Inn, or become an orientalist consumer of exoticism and stay in a local ‘riad’?
Self 2: Sigh. It’s not easy being enlightened.
But then, how else are Westerners to gaze upon the East? Aren’t we always ‘western’? A researcher on culture has called the orientalist gaze “the west looking at the east as if the west knows more about the east than they know about themselves.” Superior, condescending, don’t we all know how that ‘look’ feels? and don’t we all hate it? So why do we do it?
Currently, there is a rage on in the Middle East for Orientalist art. Opinions differ among wealthy buyers if orientalism was a way of merely painting culture, or of patronizing it. Personally, I love romantic orientalist art, I think romanticization contains a dimension of respect and deep affection.
What do you think?—–Here are two of my favorite pieces of orientalist art, both about daily life at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul in the 18th century. Piece number one is by Jean-Leon Gerome: “Harem Women Feeding Pigeons in a Courtyard”
Something about the coloring of this I just love, the pigeons flying into the light, the black eunuch, the women in their situ. Shadow/light, resting/flying, contrast/balance.
Piece number 2 is of men at the sultan’s court: “Reception at the Court of Sultan Selim III (1761-1807)
All those white turbans! the pagentry! I have indeed stood where they are standing, in 2013 in a long line to see the…….sultan’s palace and harem area, beside me were other subjects awaiting an audience with the palace, from Russia, Germany, Belaruse, Bulgaria, Turkmenistan, etc. Different age, different attire, same desire for contact with greatness.
So how do I avoid being ‘orientalist’ toward the east? I don’t know if it resolves the conflict between east and west at times, but for now I pledge to be open toward another culture, have a desire to engage, create a mutuality of dialogue and interests, have honest human-to-human contact, and humor—-
Humor because the commodification of cultures works both ways, I am viewed with an “occidentalist gaze”. Westerner consumerism is exploitable. I know this because I hear it, sounds like this from the hawkers screeching after me in the bazaar “Hey Lady!! Good deal!!! Discount for blonds!!!”
Interesting views! I love the commentary! It makes me want to reconsider the way I view the eastern world. I think we all must follow your example and try to have an open mind toward culture and establish a “mutuality of dialogue and interests.” It sounds like a good plan to me and I’ll work to reach just that, not just over there (when i decide to visit) but here at home as well! Hope you are doing well Professor!