Still from Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
- Wednesdays, 2:45 - 5:30 pm
- Instructor: Dr. Farrukh Rafiq
In this seminar course, we will critically engage with Orientalism as it appears in Western visual culture. Looking at art production from Britain and France in particular, we will consider examples from fine art, print media, design, world fairs, and architecture. In addition to the focus on the constructions of the “orient” in the past, we will draw comparisons with Western constructions of the East today to see where Orientalist tropes are visible and how we understand that imagery. Some of the themes we will explore include the relationship between art and colonialism, power structures as represented through art, and the constructions of national identities. We will consider artists such as Gérôme, Delacroix, Gauguin, Frederick Lewis, as well as photographers working in India like Borne and Beato. At the end of this course, students will have developed a crucial understanding of Orientalism and its current relevance.