#orientalism — Public Fediverse posts

"The Petitioner," Osman Hamdi Bey, 19th Century.

Osman Hamdi (1842-1910) was quite a fellow; a museum curator, art expert, archaeologist, writer, and all-around intellectual as well as being an influential painter.

Son of a high-ranking official in the Ottoman Empire, he studied art and art history in Paris, before returning to the Ottoman Empire and serving in various official capacities before being named the director of the Imperial Museum. There he worked to modernize archaeology and prevent the smuggling of artifacts out of the country. And all the time, kept on painting.

His work seems to copy the "orientalism" of European artists, which generates controversy today, as some view it as racist. But his work depicts Ottoman culture and tends to show his subjects (often modeled by family members) in active and intellectual roles. He's now seen as subverting Orientalism for his own purposes.

From the Sakıp Sabancı Müzesi, Istanbul.

#Art #OsmanHamdiBey #OttomanArt #Orientalism #Romanticism

I've never thought of myself as some kind of intellectual. But wow… my intelligence has never felt so insulted before. Subhanallah. I think I have let people get away with that a lot. The next time people project their own limitations and shortcomings onto me, clearly my civility and structured arguments at that point are serving their comfort. So I'll engage at the level they understand the moment they pull a DARVO on me by taking my critique of their frameworks and worldviews, which are influenced by the systems surrounding them, as a personal attack on their person.

"Who the fuck do you think you're speaking to, and tell me what exactly makes you think your argument and political stance are so fucking unique and easily misunderstood? Again, who the fuck do you think you're speaking to?" shall be my default response if they take my critique of their frameworks as a personal attack.

I wasn't made to forgive Western imperialism and excuse moral relativism and structural anti-intellectualism wrapped in social justice language and respectability politics. Y'all can choke.

You're free to remain in your ignorance and political incoherence while acting victimised by my very global south take, continuing your cosplay as anti-capitalists or anti-imperialists, and assimilating. In other words, live your life as usual, comrades.

#antiimperialism #decolonial #politicalanalysis #antifa #anticapitalism #anarchism #muslimvoices #orientalism #activism #solidaritynotcharity #mutualaid #antizionism #GlobalSouth #politics #advocacy #discourse #writer

I've never thought of myself as some kind of intellectual. But wow… my intelligence has never felt so insulted before. Subhanallah. I think I have let people get away with that a lot. The next time people project their own limitations and shortcomings onto me, clearly my civility and structured arguments at that point are serving their comfort. So I'll engage at the level they understand the moment they pull a DARVO on me by taking my critique of their frameworks and worldviews, which are influenced by the systems surrounding them, as a personal attack on their person.

"Who the fuck do you think you're speaking to, and tell me what exactly makes you think your argument and political stance are so fucking unique and easily misunderstood? Again, who the fuck do you think you're speaking to?" shall be my default response if they take my critique of their frameworks as a personal attack.

I wasn't made to forgive Western imperialism and excuse moral relativism and structural anti-intellectualism wrapped in social justice language and respectability politics. Y'all can choke.

You're free to remain in your ignorance and political incoherence while acting victimised by my very global south take, continuing your cosplay as anti-capitalists or anti-imperialists, and assimilating. In other words, live your life as usual, comrades.

#antiimperialism #decolonial #politicalanalysis #antifa #anticapitalism #anarchism #muslimvoices #orientalism #activism #solidaritynotcharity #mutualaid #antizionism #GlobalSouth #politics #advocacy #discourse #writer

I've never thought of myself as some kind of intellectual. But wow… my intelligence has never felt so insulted before. Subhanallah. I think I have let people get away with that a lot. The next time people project their own limitations and shortcomings onto me, clearly my civility and structured arguments at that point are serving their comfort. So I'll engage at the level they understand the moment they pull a DARVO on me by taking my critique of their frameworks and worldviews, which are influenced by the systems surrounding them, as a personal attack on their person.

"Who the fuck do you think you're speaking to, and tell me what exactly makes you think your argument and political stance are so fucking unique and easily misunderstood? Again, who the fuck do you think you're speaking to?" shall be my default response if they take my critique of their frameworks as a personal attack.

I wasn't made to forgive Western imperialism and excuse moral relativism and structural anti-intellectualism wrapped in social justice language and respectability politics. Y'all can choke.

You're free to remain in your ignorance and political incoherence while acting victimised by my very global south take, continuing your cosplay as anti-capitalists or anti-imperialists, and assimilating. In other words, live your life as usual, comrades.

#antiimperialism #decolonial #politicalanalysis #antifa #anticapitalism #anarchism #muslimvoices #orientalism #activism #solidaritynotcharity #mutualaid #antizionism #GlobalSouth #politics #advocacy #discourse #writer

"IS ISLAM COMPATIBLE WITH MODERNITY?"
This kind of question is almost never neutral. It’s usually a projection question wrapped in polite language. It carries several assumptions without naming them directly. https://wrzky.com/modernity/

#islam #orientalism #deconstruction #writer #disabledwriters #activism #politics #press

"Stop patronising hijabi Muslim women by telling them to consider how other Muslim women may find hijab oppressive, as if we have not already done so.

We know how religion is weaponised in places where Muslims are the majority. We also know how your governments weaponise anti-Muslim rhetoric globally, and we understand where Islam stands in the global order.

Who are you trying to fool here?

Treating Muslim subjects as if we are insulated from that order and reminding us that “contradictions exist” is a projection of the privilege enjoyed by those who benefit from that system."

https://wrzky.com/orientalism-and-the-denial-of-muslim-political-agency/

#hijab #orientalism #muslim #liberalism #press #islamophobia #edwardsaid #activism #authoritarianism #marxism #liberalfeminism #Islam #Iran #afghanistan #indonesia #palestine

"Muslims are not neutral subjects in the global order, and Islam is already positioned as suspect within it. The conversation about hijab does not happen in a vacuum. Take authoritarianism in Iran, for example.

Instead of seeing authoritarianism as inherently gendered and violent, as an inevitable feature of patriarchy, as a system that justifies itself by co-opting any moral framework, you view it as either “uniquely Islam”, an “Abrahamic religions issue”, or “proof that all religions are oppressive.” Why don’t you name a secular, non-authoritarian, non-misogynistic nation-state, then?"

https://wrzky.com/orientalism

#authoritarianism #Iran #Islam #Muslim #Orientalism #edwardsaid #hijab #press #anarchism #activism #politics #critique #muslimah #muslimwomen #Indonesian #palestine #imperialism #communism #marxism

"Muslims are not neutral subjects in the global order, and Islam is already positioned as suspect within it. The conversation about hijab does not happen in a vacuum. Take authoritarianism in Iran, for example.

Instead of seeing authoritarianism as inherently gendered and violent, as an inevitable feature of patriarchy, as a system that justifies itself by co-opting any moral framework, you view it as either “uniquely Islam”, an “Abrahamic religions issue”, or “proof that all religions are oppressive.” Why don’t you name a secular, non-authoritarian, non-misogynistic nation-state, then?"

https://wrzky.com/orientalism

#authoritarianism #Iran #Islam #Muslim #Orientalism #edwardsaid #hijab #press #anarchism #activism #politics #critique #muslimah #muslimwomen #Indonesian #palestine #imperialism #communism #marxism

"Muslims are not neutral subjects in the global order, and Islam is already positioned as suspect within it. The conversation about hijab does not happen in a vacuum. Take authoritarianism in Iran, for example.

Instead of seeing authoritarianism as inherently gendered and violent, as an inevitable feature of patriarchy, as a system that justifies itself by co-opting any moral framework, you view it as either “uniquely Islam”, an “Abrahamic religions issue”, or “proof that all religions are oppressive.” Why don’t you name a secular, non-authoritarian, non-misogynistic nation-state, then?"

https://wrzky.com/orientalism

#authoritarianism #Iran #Islam #Muslim #Orientalism #edwardsaid #hijab #press #anarchism #activism #politics #critique #muslimah #muslimwomen #Indonesian #palestine #imperialism #communism #marxism

"Muslims are not neutral subjects in the global order, and Islam is already positioned as suspect within it. The conversation about hijab does not happen in a vacuum. Take authoritarianism in Iran, for example.

Instead of seeing authoritarianism as inherently gendered and violent, as an inevitable feature of patriarchy, as a system that justifies itself by co-opting any moral framework, you view it as either “uniquely Islam”, an “Abrahamic religions issue”, or “proof that all religions are oppressive.” Why don’t you name a secular, non-authoritarian, non-misogynistic nation-state, then?"

https://wrzky.com/orientalism

#authoritarianism #Iran #Islam #Muslim #Orientalism #edwardsaid #hijab #press #anarchism #activism #politics #critique #muslimah #muslimwomen #Indonesian #palestine #imperialism #communism #marxism

"Muslims are not neutral subjects in the global order, and Islam is already positioned as suspect within it. The conversation about hijab does not happen in a vacuum. Take authoritarianism in Iran, for example.

Instead of seeing authoritarianism as inherently gendered and violent, as an inevitable feature of patriarchy, as a system that justifies itself by co-opting any moral framework, you view it as either “uniquely Islam”, an “Abrahamic religions issue”, or “proof that all religions are oppressive.” Why don’t you name a secular, non-authoritarian, non-misogynistic nation-state, then?"

https://wrzky.com/orientalism

#authoritarianism #Iran #Islam #Muslim #Orientalism #edwardsaid #hijab #press #anarchism #activism #politics #critique #muslimah #muslimwomen #Indonesian #palestine #imperialism #communism #marxism

In "Alimentary Orientalism" Yin Yuan follows the politics of tea, sugar & opium in 18th & 19th c Britain: How did British authors portray Otherness & the consumption of the Orient?

#PostColonialStudies #Orientalism #FoodStudies #EnglishLiterature #LiteraryStudies #Romanticism #VictorianLiterature

In "Alimentary Orientalism" Yin Yuan follows the politics of tea, sugar & opium in 18th & 19th c Britain: How did British authors portray Otherness & the consumption of the Orient?

#PostColonialStudies #Orientalism #FoodStudies #EnglishLiterature #LiteraryStudies #Romanticism #VictorianLiterature

In "Alimentary Orientalism" Yin Yuan follows the politics of tea, sugar & opium in 18th & 19th c Britain: How did British authors portray Otherness & the consumption of the Orient?

#PostColonialStudies #Orientalism #FoodStudies #EnglishLiterature #LiteraryStudies #Romanticism #VictorianLiterature

In "Alimentary Orientalism" Yin Yuan follows the politics of tea, sugar & opium in 18th & 19th c Britain: How did British authors portray Otherness & the consumption of the Orient?

#PostColonialStudies #Orientalism #FoodStudies #EnglishLiterature #LiteraryStudies #Romanticism #VictorianLiterature

Illustration by Anne Allen, Jean-Baptiste Pillement, from Nouvelle suite de cahiers arabesques chinois a l'usage des dessinateurs et des peintres (ca. 1790s).

Source: Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

Available to buy as a print.

https://pdimagearchive.org/images/d499b8dc-4fb1-4801-a1a5-a1a65fc405da

#rococo #gardens #orientalism #foliage #landscapes #huts #china #design #plants #chinoiserie #art #publicdomain

I don't like how fellow Muslims talk about Islam to Western audiences. It's always defensive. Taking the offensive stance once in a while is necessary. Islam doesn't need defending. It's those who paint it as dangerous that need to explain themselves.

Read my critique of Western political frameworks. Consider it a mirror for those who claim to be allies in the West and “anti-imperialist.”

https://wrzky.com/orientalism-and-the-denial-of-muslim-political-agency/

#orientalism #muslimfeminism #antiimperialism #pluralism #Trotskyism #panislamism #liberalfeminism #secularism #decolonial #deconstruction #anarchism #muslim #islam #indonesia #palestine #marxism #iran #afghanistan #lebanon #syria #communism #syncretism

I don't like how fellow Muslims talk about Islam to Western audiences. It's always defensive. Taking the offensive stance once in a while is necessary. Islam doesn't need defending. It's those who paint it as dangerous that need to explain themselves.

Read my critique of Western political frameworks. Consider it a mirror for those who claim to be allies in the West and “anti-imperialist.”

https://wrzky.com/orientalism-and-the-denial-of-muslim-political-agency

#orientalism #muslimfeminism #antiimperialism #pluralism #Trotskyism #panislamism #liberalfeminism #secularism #decolonial #deconstruction

Orientalism and the Denial of Muslim Political Agency

https://wrzky.com/orientalism-and-the-denial-of-muslim-political-agency/

Orientalism and the Denial of Muslim Political Agency

https://wrzky.com/orientalism-and-the-denial-of-muslim-political-agency/

Illustration by Anne Allen, Jean-Baptiste Pillement, from Nouvelle suite de cahiers arabesques chinois a l'usage des dessinateurs et des peintres (ca. 1790s).

Source: Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

Available to buy as a print.

https://pdimagearchive.org/images/a12b1e66-e6bc-4c7f-ae36-1ab4bc46fd24

#rococo #decorative #birds #orientalism #china #design #plants #chinoiserie #art #publicdomain

Is Islam Compatible with Modern Values?

https://wrzky.com/is-islam-compatible-with-modern-values/

Frontispiece to Athanasius Kircher's *China Illustrata* (1667) by Athanasius Kircher, from China Illustrata
.

Source: Library of the University of Seville / Flickr: The Commons

https://pdimagearchive.org/images/0b92de90-0624-4114-b81a-c113fde74383

#buddha #crosses #orientalism #buddhism #allegory #shields #art #publicdomain

“The Orient and Islam have a kind of extrareal, phenomenologically reduced status that puts them out of reach of everyone except the Western expert. From the beginning of Western speculation about the Orient, the one thing the orient could not do was to represent itself. Evidence of the Orient was credible only after it had passed through and been made firm by the refining fire of the Orientalist’s work.”

― Edward W. Said, Orientalism

#culture #subalternStudies #islamophobia #orientalism #whiteSupremacy #mandates #history #EdwardSaid #hegemony #quote #quotes

"We can better understand the persistence and the durability of saturating hegemonic systems like culture when we realize that their internal constraints upon writers and thinkers were productive, not unilaterally inhibiting."

― Edward Said

#culture #subalternStudies #domination #orientalism #OttomanEmpire #mandates #history #EdwardSaid #hegemony #quote #quotes