History /
Poland and Orientalism [115]
The term Orientalism by Said was used to denote the idea of indisputable superiority and some kind of disdain of the West when it "thinks" about different cultures.
The way he used it includes Slavic world, so Poland too. (Said was very specific about what was the western circle - North America, atlantic Europe, mostly EMPIRES that had colonies, there is no Poland in that story)
Maybe it would be good to read the introduction of the Orientalism, and you'll understand what Said wanted to say.
German attitudes to their Slav neighbours, towards whom they harboured an orientalising outlook that saw them, in contrast to German orderliness and rationality, as a force of disorder – and dangerous sexual attraction."
I wrote many times about the same impression regarding whole Slavic world that Germans generously shared with me. I'm thankful for that.
Sexuality is one of their basic fears (f.i., sterilization of polish and other women in WWII).
It is rationalized through various modes of degradation of Slavic women (and men).
Poland cannot be squeezed out of
orientalistic discourse.
Integration in EU is one thing, but how Poles and their cultural heritage is seen by the West is another.
