The Origins of Occidentalism - 2305 Words

To answer the question posed it necessary to first consider the development of, and what constitutes the West. Once this is achieved, we are than able to discuss occidentalism. However, the concept of orientalism, and what constitutes the orient, will first be considered as, arguably, orientalism provoked occidentalism. Thereafter, the four key features of occidentalism, identified by Buruma and Margalit (2004) will be discussed. Contemporary notions of ociddentalism, more specifically Islamic extremism will also be studied; of must importance here is if, or how, Buruma’s and Margalit’s (2004) theory of occidentalism aids our understanding of the perspective of those in resistance to the west. From 1815 to 1914 the European†¦show more content†¦There has always been opposition to the development of the west. Occidentalism creates a dehumanising picture of the west, painted by its’ enemies. Buruma and Margalit (2004) state, Occidentalism has its’ origins in the West. Buruma (2004) argues, contemporary Islamic occidentalists are not fully foreign to the West they despise; many Islamic radicals borrow their anti-western concepts from Russian and German philosophy. â€Å"People with little history and even less intellectual capacity would have no idea why the hate-and should hate-the west, let alone understand the complex, pluralistic nature of western societies and culture.† (Buruma and Margalit 2004:48) To argue that the main roots of anti-western attitudes lie in the West is to belittle and underestimate the histories, traditions and cultures of non-western societies. Anti-westernism has been rising over the past two or three decades, it is currently closely associated with Islamic extremism. The Islamic contribution to Occidentalism is a religious vision of purity in which the idolatrous west has to be destroyed (Buruma 2004). Buruma and Margalit (2004) argue there are four hostile aspects of the occidental view of the West: a hatred of the city, rationality or the loss of the soul, an anti-bourgeois attitude and anti-feminism. Those who dislike the west see it in similar terms as ‘a machine like society without a soul’ (Buruma andShow MoreRelatedA Critical Analysis Of The General Idea Of Orient Spread Of The Western World1502 Words   |  7 Pagesand how development has actually been conducted by the West. Cases of India and African countries will be illustrated as examples. Understanding the Background of Development Said’s comment help us understand the background of development. The origin of development can be truck back to the time of colonization. The 15th century was a century of ‘encounter’ to the non-European people for the Western people whose intention to acknowledge and modernize the non-Europeans was based on an idea to spreadRead MoreClass Culture Is A Real Structure Essay2296 Words   |  10 Pagesmotives and desires. Americans tend to blame themselves for their failures, or downward mobility. The chances for success are limited not just because of individual failure, but because individuals are engaged in an arena of gender, race and ethnic origins. This is known as â€Å"the hidden injuries of class†(Ortner, pg. 171) Working class and middle class practices of gender, sexual relations, and parent child relations, are forms of resistance and compliance of upward class mobility. Gender relationsRead MoreThe Chinese National Of Chinese Movies2802 Words   |  12 Pagesplight and further as a national recognition of the pride of belonging to the Chinese people. This colorful blending however does not elude critiques such as Ylu-Wal (185) who delve into the essence of being Chinese viewed from the Orientalism, Occidentalism, Nationalism and Modernity lenses. Durovicova and Newman (124) identify that the concept of national is segmented into miniature Chinese differences such as Wendy’s autonomy theme (57) the Shanghai-Hong Kong divides and is critically becoming an