Re-Orientalism

The Perpetration and Development of Orientalism by Orientals

Bibliographic Data

ID3606995
AuthorsLisa Lau (0000-0001-7295-336X, Keele University, corresponding author)
Year2009
Volume43
Issue2
Pages571-590
Publication date2009-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueModern Asian Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0026-749X • E-ISSN: 1469-8099
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0026749x07003058
OpenAlexW2029031786
LanguageEN
Citations received25
References cited5

This article discusses the perpetration of Orientalism in the arena of contemporary South Asian literature in English: no longer an Orientalism propagated by Occidentals, but ironically enough, by Orientals, albeit by diasporic Orientals. This process, which is here termed as Re-Orientalism, dominates and, to a significant extent, distorts the representation of the Orient, seizing voice and platform, and once again consigning the Oriental within the Orient to a position of 'The Other'. The article begins by analysing and establishing the dominant positionality of diasporic South Asian women writers relative to their non-diasporic counterparts in the genre, particularly within the last half decade. It then identifies three problems with the techniques employed by some diasporic authors which have exacerbated the detrimental effects of Re-Orientalism; the pre-occupation with producing writing which is recognisably within the South Asian genre, the problem of generalisation and totalisation, and the insidious nature of 'truth claims

Aesthetics · Art · Literature · Orientalism · Political science · Representation (politics · Sociology · Stereotype (UML · Diaspora, migration, transnational identity · Gender Studies · History · Law · Postcolonial and Cultural Literary Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology · South Asian Cinema and Culture