Orientalism. How Orientalism Influences Lives and Experiences

Orientalism Name Institutional Affiliation
Orientalism IntroductionOrientalism is a concept that has been an area of interest in academic literature. It is a unique perception that highlights the functions of the Orients in the lives of the West. This study requires seeking knowledge of places, people and civilization to have a better understanding of the Western and Eastern worlds. The key areas in this study include the traditions, culture, and customs of the West. This research paper intends to provide detailed information on the effects of Orientalism on lives, how it influences experiences as well as how it shapes daily activities in the society.Orientalism has been defined in various ways by many academic scholars. It can be referred as an ideology or a set of prejudices that create a sense of European superiority over the countries in the East and hence, explicitly or implicitly legitimate colonialism or imperialism, and exploitation of subjugated people deemed racially or culturally inferior to the dominant culture. The second definition refers to Orientalism as a discipline that involves the study of religion, traditions, language, and culture or the Eastern. The other definition refers to Orientalism as a theme in art and literature. Therefore, Orientalism has Western designs and styles for restructuring, dominating and having authority over the orients because it is based on the concept of the West dominating its influence over the East (Takaki, 2012).The Orientalism in American society was instigated by the interactions between the Americans and the Asians (Takaki, 2012). In American society, Orientalism is represented in the form of academic discipline, based on a philosophical understanding of the Middle East. However, they filter the historical complexity and context to spotlight the allegedly essential cultural characteristics of the Middle East. In American society, the aspect of Orientalism has been shaped by patterns regarding the association between the East and the West (Takaki, 2012). The roots are related to attitudes, values, and the beliefs of the immigrants from Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries in North America (Takaki, 2012). Most of these immigrants from Europe have their individual perspective about the philosophy of the Eastern people. They characterize their civilizations as decadent, immoral and exotic. These beliefs and values were added to the European Empires philosophy. American Orientalism was based on the philosophical concept of European Orientalism. Nevertheless, European Orientalism reflected in negative attitudes towards the orients and the Asian People.  How Orientalism Influences Lives and Experiences
In as much as Orientalism originated from the colonial period, it continues to impact on images, attitudes, and knowledge of people today. The themes that reveal it and its traditions are very noticeable in today’s activities (Said, 2016). The main reason is that it is related to human desires because fantasy creates desires. The images found in the art are highly influenced by Orientalism. Some features of Orientalism as a practice and concept have a direct association on the study of the images related to the orients. Many images show the involvement of women in so...