Occidentalism
Occidentalism is a term for stereotyped and sometimes dehumanizing views of the so-called Western world, including Europe, the United States, Australia and so on. The term was popularized by Ian Buruma and Avishai Margalit book of the same name.
A mirror image: Eastern views of the West
In an enlightening contrast, many of the essentially dismissive and patronizing concepts associated with Western "Orientalism" as expressed above are summed up— but in reverse orientation— in the epilogue to the "Chapter on the Western Regions" according to the Hou Hanshu. This is the official history of the Later (or "Eastern") Han Dynasty (25-221 CE). The book was compiled by Fan Ye, (died 445 CE), and it succinctly expresses the Han opinion of the Western Hu culture (in what is now western China):
- The Western Hu are far away.
- They live in an outer zone.
- Their countries' products are beautiful and precious,
- But their character is debauched and frivolous.
- They do not follow the rites of China.
- Han has the canonical books.
- They do not obey the Way of the Gods.
- How pitiful!
- How obstinate!
Likewise derogatory or stereotyped portrayals of Westerners appear in many works of Indian, Chinese and Japanese artists.
In the late 20th century many Western cultural themes and images began appearing in Asian art and culture, especially in Japan. English words and phrases are prominent in Japanese advertising and popular culture, and many Japanese animes are written around characters, settings, themes, and mythological figures derived from various Western cultural traditions.
Further reading
- Xiaomei Chen, Occidentalism : a theory of counter-discourse in post-Mao China / Xiaomei Chen. Foreword by Dai Jinhua, 2. ed., rev. and expanded, Lanham, Md. [u.a.] : Rowman & Littlefield, 2002