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The concept of imagined (also often called imaginative) geographies has evolved out of the work of Edward Said, particularly his critique on Orientalism. In this term, "imagined" is used not to mean "false" or "made-up", but rather "perceived". It refers to the perception of space created through certain images, texts or discourses. Said characterized the Orient as the stage on that the whole East is confined. Imagined geographies can be seen as a form of social constructionism on par with Benedict Anderson's concept of imagined communities. Edward Said's notion of Orientalism is tied to the tumultuous dynamics of contemporary history. Orientalism is often referred to as the West's patronizing perceptions and depictions of the East, but more specifically towards Islamic and Confucian states. Orientalism has also been labeled to as the cornerstone of postcolonial studies. Despite often being constructed on a national level, imagined geographies also occur domestically in nations and locally within regions, cities, etc. ==Orientalism== (詳細はOrient" based on a particular imagination, popularized through academic Oriental studies, travel writing, anthropology and a colonial view of the Orient. This imagination included painting the orient as feminine- however, Said's view on the gendered nature has been criticized by other scholars due to a limited exploration of the construct.〔Sharp, Joanne P. "Geographies of Postcolonialism: Ch. 1, Imagining the World." London: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2009. p. 27〕 At a 1993 lecture located at York University, Toronto, Canada, Said stressed the role culture plays in Orientalism-based imperialism and colonialism.〔Edward Said. "Culture and Imperialism" (Lecture): York University, Toronto, February 10, 1993.〕 By differentiating and elevating a national culture over another a validating process of "othering" is undertaken.〔Alison Mountz, Key Concepts in Political Geography, Ch. 28 "The Other". 328-329.〕 This process underlies imagined geographies such as orientalism as it creates a set of preconceived notions for self-serving purposes.〔Alison Mountz, Key Concepts in Political Geography, Ch. 28 "The Other"; Edward Said. "Culture and Imperialism" (Lecture): York University, Toronto, February 10, 1993.〕 In constructing itself as superior, the imperial force or colonizing agent is able to justify its actions as somehow necessary or beneficial to the "other".〔Edward Said. "Culture and Imperialism" (Lecture): York University, Toronto, February 10, 1993.〕 Despite the broad scope and affect of orientalism as an imagined geography, it and the underlying process of "othering" are discursive and thereby normalized within dominant, Western societies.〔Joanne P. Sharp. Geographies of Postcolonialism: Ch.1 "Imagining the World". 19-20.〕 It is in this sense that Orientalism may be reinforced in cultural texts such as art, film, literature, music, etc. where one-dimensional and often backwards constructions prevail.〔Derek Gregory The Colonial Present. Ch. 1. 8-10.〕 A prime source of cinematic examples is the documentary-film ''Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Villifies a People''.〔Sut Jhally. Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Villifies a People.〕 The film demonstrates the process of orientalism centric "othering" within Western films from the silent era to modern classics such as Disney's ''Aladdin''.〔Sut Jhally. Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Villifies a People.〕 Inferior, backwards, and culturally stagnate constructions of Oriental "others" become normalized in the minds of Western consumers of cultural texts; reinforcing racist or insensitive beliefs and assumptions.〔Derek Gregory The Colonial Present. Ch. 1. 10-11.〕 In ''Orientalism'', Said says that Orientalism is an imagined geography because a) Europeans created one culture for the entirety of the 'Orient', and b) the 'Orient' was defined by text and not by the 'Orient'. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Imagined geographies」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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