[KS] Does "the Orient" still exist?

Thu May 8 21:10:16 EDT 2003

Interesting discussion.  I've seen, in so many cases, people concerned about being 'pc' are often not the target of the term.  As a personal example, I am a member of the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians, in Michigan (US).  So many non-Indians like to say 'Native American', and even a few Indians do, too.  However, you will find many, if not most, like to be called by their native language name; most outsiders don't know those names, so tribal names, such as 'Odawa' (formerly Ottawa) are fine.  The name 'Indian' is often used (sometimes by the abbreviation NDN).  A slightly OT article, but still related to cultural awareness: http://members.tripod.com/TopCat4/twinkie.htm 

I see 'Oriental' frequently still used here in Korea.  한방(漢方) is often called "Oriental Medicine".  Dong Guk University's satellite facility in the U.S. is a good example: http://210.94.176.254/dru/home/  

Thomas Duvernay

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Vladimir Tikhonov 
  To: Koreanstudies at koreaweb.ws 
  Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2003 9:21 PM
  Subject: Re: [KS] Does "the Orient" still exist?

  Of course, it is plainly obvious - and it was actually understood even before E.Said's seminal work - that terms like "Orient" or "Occident" had been imagined, defined, and re-defined with very obvious political agendas in mind. But, then, "Asia", for example, is an equally imaginary unit, and in Russian, the word "Asiatic" has been, in times, loaded with even worse pejorative meanings that rather romantically sounding "oriental" - remember, for example, still oft-used word "aziatchina" ("Asian [societal or political forms]" - in many contexts coterminous with "despotism" or "tyranny"). So, renaming The Faculty of Oriental Studies into, say, Faculty of Asian and African Research hardly will cut off the links to the "disgraceful past". Wouldn't it be wiser to respect the legacy of the "Orientalist" past while simultaneously trying to be conscious about all kinds of political agendas in our research work and avoid certain traps our predecessors did not manage to avoid? That remaining doesn't necessarily correspond to the real change, is shown very well by the example of An'gibu which is KukchOngwOn now - Hanch'ongnyOn students didn't get any better treatment under the new signboard.

  Vladimir   

  At 10:46 08.05.2003 +0200, you wrote:

    It need not be emphasized that the Russian tradition has from its outset been (a rather splendid) and thus acknowledged part of the European academic tradition.
    However, it should be pointed out that in spite of obvious "colonial vestiges" there is substantial reason for maintaining Faculties of Oriental Studies: For instance, East Asian history of thought most obviously cannot be understood without reference to Indian and Central Asian  developments. Vice versa, traditional Indology is heavly dependent on the knowledge of Chinese texts....
    The belated opposition against suspected forms of "Orientalism" might in fact mirror a certain preoccupation with political notions of the 20th century.

    Joerg Plassen
    Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum

    CHIRKOV D S wrote:

      Greetings,

      Tikhonov writes that "The faculty I graduated from in St-Petersbourg, remains "Oriental" - and, I guess, will not change the name."

      What, however, proves the point that "oriental" is an imperialist vestige, is the fact, that in St.-Petersburg, there is not simply an Oriental Studies Faculty, but a Faculty of Oriental and African Studies (!).

      What brings scholars to intellectually group Korean Studies with Persian, African, and Georgian is clear: a Russian attempt to mimic European modes of education.

      It is ironic to note, that until recently, Europe considered that Russia itself, is, the Orient.

      It is high time that one of the largest countries in Asia - Russia - take steps to integrate itself into the East Asian context. Removing outmoded distinctions based on a colonial understanding of the world is in order.

      Regards,
      Chirkov.
      dchirkov (at) fas harvard edu

    -- 
    ------------------------------------------------------------

    Dr. Joerg Plassen, (Jun.Prof. Geistesgeschichte Koreas)
    Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum
    Fakultaet fuer Ostasienwissenschaften
    Sprache und Kultur Koreas
    D-44780 Bochum
    Germany

    eMail: joerg.plassen at ruhr-uni-bochum.de
    Tel. (off.)  : +49-(0)234-32-22919
    Fax  (off.)  : +49-(0)234-32-14747
    Tel. (priv.) : +49-(0)234-798-1235

  Vladimir Tikhonov,
  Department of East European and Oriental Studies,
  Faculty of Arts,
  University of Oslo,
  P.b. 1030, Blindern, 0315, Oslo, Norway.
  Fax: 47-22854140; Tel: 47-22857118
  Personal web page: http://www.geocities.com/volodyatikhonov/volodyatikhonov.html
  Electronic classrooms: East Asian/Korean Society and Politics:
                         http://www.geocities.com/uioeastasia2002/main.html
                         East Asian/Korean Religion and Philosophy:
                         http://www.geocities.com/uioeastasia2003/classroom.html

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