[Reader-list] some inetresting practicesw ith orient/al/ism

[sadan]

Dear friends, 
i found this posting interesting enough to refer to you.
sadan.

On Tuesday 13 May 2003 12:57 pm, you wrote:
> H-ASIA
> May 13, 2003
>
> Does "the Orient" still exist? An aspect of a current debate
> -----
> Ed. note:  This post arises from discussions regarding use of terms such
> as "Oriental" and "Orient" in a particular context and from a particular
> perspective.  I delayed its post by a few days seeking further views, but
> was unsuccessful.  Perhaps this post will produce discussion.     FFC
> ************************************************************************
> From: "Tobias Hýbinette" <tobias at orient.su.se>
>
> I need help to find strong arguments for a change of name of Sweden's
> main Asian studies department, the Department of Oriental languages
> at Stockholm University, where many faculty members proudly and
> gladly use academic terms like "oriental", "the Orient" and
> "orientals".
>
> After having proposed a change to the Department of Asian languages a
> discussion has started with the faculty members being divided according
> to the following more or less expected lines where the former group
> influenced by postcolonial thinking wants a change in the name of
> antiracism, while the latter sees themselves as defenders of the Western
> academic tradition of "Orientalism":
>
> Very strong divisions:
> - ethnic Asians against ethnic Westerners
> - PhD candidates and research assistants against associate professors
>     and professors
> - people born in the 1960s/1970s/1980s against those born in the
>     1930s/1940s/1950s
>
> As so many of the defenders refer to the countries of England and
> France where "Oriental Studies" and "Orientalism" still is the
> accepted scientific term, could someone help me with the background
> on how Oriental Studies was transformed into Asian Studies in a North
> American setting (including a possible parallel to how "Negro
> Studies" was transformed into African Studies already some 30 years
> ago) as well as some information on how the term is perceived outside
> the West among the Asians themselves? Or is it that I am wrong - that
> terms like "oriental", "the Orient" and "orientals" aren't that
> contested and controversial as I presume?
>
>
> Best,