Orientalism

Orientalism is knowledge or customs specific to Asian culture, people or language.

(noun)

An example of Orientalism is Japantown in San Francisco.

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See Orientalism in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. any trait, quality, mannerism, etc. usually associated with people of the East
  2. the study of Eastern culture
  3. a viewpoint, as held by someone in the West, in which Asia or specif. the Arabic Middle East is seen variously as exotic, mysterious, irrational, etc.: term used to impute a patronizing attitude

Origin: oriental + -ism

Related Forms:

See Orientalism in American Heritage Dictionary 4

also o·ri·en·tal·ism

noun
  1. A quality, mannerism, or custom specific to or characteristic of the Orient.
  2. Scholarly knowledge of Asian cultures, languages, and peoples.

Related Forms:

  • Oˌri·enˈtal·ist adjective & n.

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