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Marvels and Mirages of Orientalism Marvels and Mirages of Orientalism Question The exhibitions in the Montreal Museum of Fine Art (MMFA) continue to show that the East and the Arabs were inferior and needed the intervention of the West. For example, in the exhibition when a Moroccan King was leaving to meet an ambassador, all his Arabs subjects bowed greatly as if the European ambassador was an extraordinary being. Therefore, the exhibition continues to distort differences of Arab people and culture compared to that of Europe hence the exhibition in the Museum depicts orientalism.
However, the paintings in the Museum do not depict exoticization of the Arabs or the East but it enlightens European as colonialists of the Arabs.Question 2The exhibition layout and painting was very old fashioned. However, the exoticism of the paintings and photograph combined with the reality of Arabs souvenirs is of royalty. The Moroccan architecture of the buildings looks more of a palace. The dressing code as well as fashion of the people makes the setting very posh. The classy setting of the museum photos may make one think of a city yet they are just paintings in a museum.
Upon setting the eyes on the painting, one could feel the wealth. Everyone will associate the high ceiling of the buildings with a palace.Question 3 Women have determined forms of human culture and influences course of events that happen in a culture. Men ignorance on women greatly compounded by the oversight of information on society that give female power has challenged the advancement and independence of women. This image implies sexism hence it communicates to the people now on the importance of according women same treatment as men.
Just like men have been in the position of war, so do the implication in this image. The sword signifies the power accorded to this woman in the image. The dressing code is a replica of a prince and not a princess, an implication that power accord should be to women just as men. Painting in glinting red and gold tones depicts exotic settings. The beauty of this woman in the image appears as avenging beauty by proudly bearing her sword. Such a face looks like one who is under a mission to save or revenge about her besieged kingdom or city.
Question 4This is a picture of the Arabs soldiers in a watch out to protect their kingdom from entry of an enemy. The military power remains in vigilance to support the unpopular war. They create a wedge between the European scramble and colonization of the East hence it shun off orientalism. The existence of the soldiers at the offstage describes despotism of the Pasha’s government. This shows the inhabitant of a power system that is parallel with orientalism. The soldiers vigilance provide a barrier to entry of any person across the boundary hence the soldier satisfies someone own ends who cannot give way to entry of the West.
Because of the allusion to the East within the discourse of power, there was boundary demarcation to prevent the West encroachment into the Arabs lands. Therefore, soldiers provide a boundary against which the Westerner may posit their notion of orientalism.Question 5 This painting is very important in the exhibition because it compensate the lack of one’s creative skills among other artist work also showed in the exhibition. The painting has originality in it and a unique technique of landscape presentation that is lacking in other painting.
The artist created the photo original thereby displaying great ideas and creativity. The coloration of this painting is unique and lacking in other photos. However, it mimics other paintings styles to counterbalance the lack of other creative skills in it. For example, contrary to the contemporary paintings, this painting lacks background setting. This painting provides the best simple way of presenting royalty in pictures as opposed to how other artist presented wealth and posh living in their paintings in the exhibition.
ReferenceMontreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA). May 31, 2015. Marvels and Mirages of Orientalism. Web. May 12, 2015. Retrieved from https://www.mbam.qc.ca/en/exhibitions/on-view/marvels-and-mirages-of-orientalism/#layout
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