Orientalism vs Occidentalism

Summary of the article

Wang ning
In this article author is talking about post colonialism an original
theoretical concept in western critical discourse which actually has two
main aspects post-colonial literature and post-colonial theory. The
writings counter these concepts are called post orientalism. He said that
the said discourse is being discussed and criticized among Chinese,
Taiwan, Hong Kong scholars as well as in overseas Chinese circle. The
reason of writing this article is the influence of film directors Zheng and
chen towards orientalism and attack on them as kind of occident
reaction.so he want to advocate his opposition between orient and
Occidentalism. He first reexamine the construction and interpretation of
Edward said, then questioned the so called Occidentalism and then
finally tried to prove that orientalism in current era the main tendency is
cultural dialogue rather than cultural opposition.
Questioning said orientalism, author said that in theoretical ways its
pluralistic and there are at least three forms: one is constructed by
Gayatri c. Spavak which is Characterized by third world feminism and
deconstructive thought cultural critique, one is practiced by Homi
bhabha always producing ambiguity and one is constructed and
theorized by Edward said and characterized by his description and
construction of orientalism.Said clearly illustrate that orient is opposite
to occident, orient is merely what exist in the eyes of certain western
people as “other” but occident is cultural and geographically spoken.
According to him orientalism connotations are
1. Orient and occident different on the basis of thinking, political,
economic, even lingual and have different hemispheres ontological and
epistemological differences are there.
2. Powerful west weaker east, unequal relationship is became myth after
a little knowledge of east
3. Some prejudice against and curiosity of metropolitan countries
4. Overlaps three fields
History of cultural relation of east and west that lasted for four thousand
years generation after created the concept of ‘other’ and for long time
orient in the eyes of and culture of westerns both stupid and lazy on the
one hand and on the other hand mysterious and attractive. Since occident
is always other, said argues the deep rooted episteme of the west is the
part of their colonized ideology.
The author is saying that this is the concept of orientalists created by
westerns as a myth and Said’s response to them opens up new horizons
of study their marginalized sphere that orient is neglected and over
looked by western scholars. Its profound political and cultural
connotation has not only geological boundaries which said limited
between east and west and Middle East, in inequality of east and west is
reffered to cultural relation and shift of westeren scholarship on anti-
colonialist factor in order to decentralization and deconstruction. The
west centrism or eurocentrism is in perspective of orient as another.
There are multiple connotation and a series of orientation, constructed
by westerns in sense of “Orientalism”. But there is no Orient or
Orientalism constructed as “pure “so the so called orientalism is nothing
but a myth on which west centrism works. Thus said critic shows the
anti-colonialism. Afterwards the author talk about the clash of
civilizations concept of Samuel huntingtin that there are two origins of
orient culture;Arab countries and china, which is overlooked by said
which leads limitation to his studies while comparative literature is not
only cross national but also cross cultural.
Occidentalism a post-colonial strategy of third world, the concept
presented by said about orientalism has been indeed discussed
academically and theoretically observed by both western and eastern
scholars in contrast Occidentalism assumed as its counterpart also more
interminate and problematic concept. Which also effected the thinking it
shows the third worlds anti-colonist and anti-hegemonic tendency. The
writer says there should be well establishing communication and
dialogue between east and west but its theoretical and a topic of
civilizational clash. Then he talks about Occidentalism in china and the
war of 1840 and the struggle of people against imperialism and
hegemonism immediately after the founding of the peoples republic
Occidentalism plays a positive role in the world in breaking its isolation.
In its political and economic condition and in literature and art
Occidentalism effected every aspect of life since in the beginning of
1980s the Chinese people’s original protective mechanism has collapsed
and their view of west has changed dramatically.in short Occidentalism
entered in our discourse of competitive culture literature studies and
literary criticism although few have realized it. According to author this
phenomenon should call forth our vigilance it should be deconstruct to
falsify the artificial opposition between east and west.so in writers point
of view it should be called western studies in order to differentiate it
from Occidentalism and the research field nonwestern studies in the
west.