orientalist Definition
a person who specializes in the study of Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African cultures and societies, often from a Western perspective.
Using orientalist: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "orientalist" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The museum's collection of orientalist paintings is impressive.
Example
Edward Said was critical of the orientalist approach to studying the Middle East.
Example
Many orientalists were also colonial administrators.
orientalist Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for orientalist
- Asianist
- Middle Easternist
- North Africanist
Phrases with orientalist
a genre of painting that depicts scenes from Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African cultures, often with exoticized or romanticized elements
Example
The museum has a large collection of orientalist paintings from the 19th century.
a genre of literature that portrays the cultures and societies of Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, often from a Western perspective
Example
Many 19th-century British novels can be classified as orientalist literature.
the academic study of Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African cultures and societies, often from a Western perspective
Example
The department of Oriental Studies at Oxford University is known for its orientalist scholarship.
Summary: orientalist in Brief
'Orientalist' [ˌɔːriənˈtælɪst] refers to a person who specializes in studying the cultures and societies of Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, often from a Western perspective. This includes fields such as art, literature, and scholarship. The term can also refer to a genre of painting and literature that portrays these cultures in an exoticized or romanticized way.
