Abstract (eng)
The relationship between the Orientalist painting and Orientalism discourse has increasingly come into focus since the publication of Edward Said’s book Orientalism in 1985. The Orientalist paintings of the 19th century presented the Orient as a counterworld of the Western civilization. Even though we now live in a post-colonial or rather post-oriental era, until now we have been faced with Orientalist paintings and their messages. Edward Said’s scientific contribution reveals power relations and it describes how they function. However, he neither states how power relations can be set in motion nor does he develop a resistance theory which can be implemented in practice. According to Said, new patterns of representation may initiate forms of resistance because they decipher and counteract existing power relations. Interestingly, strategies of resistance occur in the hybrid contemporary art scene. Orientalism as a way of thinking by the public is criticised by post-oriental artists through the pictorial processing of Orientalism in art photography. Basically, with their works, a new definition of Orientalism takes place in order to correct the distorted views of the Orient. In a first step, the post-oriental artists challenge the traditional imagery of Orientalist paintings and, consequently, identity ascriptions and objectifications of the Oriental. Then, in a second step, a new visual language is introduced and as a result, it presents new conceptions of post-oriental identities. This PhD thesis analyses how post-oriental art contributes to breaking out of the rule of Orientalism and its definatory power. An analysis of the post-oriental artistic practice shall provide an impetus for the sociological theoretical and methodological approach to the study of power relations and knowledge structures. This is of importance to not unconsciously and uncritically reproduce academic discussions and to prevent their establishment as scientific folklore. With the help of this PhD thesis, the way for an innovative sociology shall be paved.