Exoticism
Aesthetic of elsewhere
Exoticism is fascination with foreign or unfamiliar cultures, places, or things—often romanticizing them as mysterious, alluring, or primitive.
The term appears in art criticism and cultural studies to describe work that emphasizes the strangeness of other cultures: The painting's exoticism reflected European fantasies about the Orient.
Exoticism often says more about the observer's projections than about what's being observed.
Extending dominion over others
- orientalismInterest in Eastern aesthetics
- primitivismIdealization of pre-modern life
- otheringViewing as fundamentally different
- appropriationUnauthorized claiming or allocation
conquest · tropics · safari · spices · silk road · trade routes · exploration · colonialism
Interest in Eastern aesthetics
- othernessQuality of being unlike
- foreignnessQuality of being unfamiliar
- allureAttractive, tempting quality
- mystiqueAura of fascination
romanticization · fascination · fetishization · novelty · unfamiliarity · intrigue · idealization · fantasy
Western art imitating Eastern design
- arabesqueFlowing ornamental design
- moorishTemptingly hard to stop
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
- motifRecurring thematic element
pastiche · influence · borrowing · fusion · decoration · pattern · ornament · palette
Indonesian percussive ensemble
- ragaIndian melodic framework
- polyrhythmOverlapping musical beat patterns
- pentatonicScale of five tones
- microtonalUsing non-standard pitch intervals
world music · fusion · instrumentation · sitar · tabla · didgeridoo · koto · marimba
Aromatic food flavorings
- ingredientsParts of a mixture
- flavorsDistinct taste qualities
- cuisinesCultural cooking styles
- fusionJoining into unity
imported · tropical · delicacy · rare · unfamiliar · acquired taste · presentation · preparation
imperialism
Extending dominion over others
- orientalismInterest in Eastern aesthetics
- primitivismIdealization of pre-modern life
- otheringViewing as fundamentally different
appropriation · conquest · tropics · safari · spices · silk road · trade routes · exploration · colonialism · empire
orientalism
Interest in Eastern aesthetics
- othernessQuality of being unlike
- foreignnessQuality of being unfamiliar
- allureAttractive, tempting quality
mystique · romanticization · fascination · fetishization · novelty · unfamiliarity · intrigue · idealization · fantasy · escapism
chinoiserie
Western art imitating Eastern design
motif · pastiche · influence · borrowing · fusion · decoration · pattern · ornament · palette · imagery
gamelan
Indonesian percussive ensemble
- ragaIndian melodic framework
- polyrhythmOverlapping musical beat patterns
- pentatonicScale of five tones
microtonal · world music · fusion · instrumentation · sitar · tabla · didgeridoo · koto · marimba · pan flute
spices
Aromatic food flavorings
- ingredientsParts of a mixture
- flavorsDistinct taste qualities
- cuisinesCultural cooking styles
fusion · imported · tropical · delicacy · rare · unfamiliar · acquired taste · presentation · preparation · authenticity
Exoticismfamiliarity
Knowledge through experience
ordinariness · domesticity · localness · homeliness · mundaneness
Exoticismrealism
Accepting things as they are
authenticity · naturalism · verisimilitude · objectivity · social realism
Exoticismuniversalism
Doctrine of total reconciliation
cosmopolitanism · normalization · integration · cultural relativism · decolonization