orientalist
/ˌɔriˈɛntəlɪst/
adjective
- Relating to or characteristic of the academic study of Asian cultures or of stereotypical Western views of Asia.
- The library has a large collection of orientalist paintings from the 1800s.
- His orientalist approach to history has been criticized for being outdated.
- The museum's orientalist wing displays artifacts from China, Japan, and Persia.
noun
- A scholar who specializes in the study of Asian languages, cultures, or histories, especially in the traditional academic field of oriental studies.
- The famous orientalist spent decades translating ancient Persian poetry.
- Many orientalists in the 19th century worked for colonial governments.
- She became an orientalist after falling in love with Japanese calligraphy during a trip to Kyoto.
- A person who adopts or promotes stereotypical or exoticized views of Asian cultures.
- Being an orientalist in the modern sense means ignoring the diversity and complexity of Asian societies.
- Some critics say the film's director is an orientalist who doesn't understand the real culture he portrays.
- The travel writer was accused of being an orientalist because he described the locals as mysterious and timeless.