Book review (final part of Occidentalism portfolio)

Book review Occidentalism, by Ian Buruma and Avishai Margalit

 

It’s easy to become blind all the particularities of our surroundings and culture. For all those wishing to get out of this rut, however, Ian Buruma and Avishai Margalit’s book Occidentalism (2004) is an excellent antidote. With the term ´Occidentalism´ the writers hope to encapsulate “the dehumanizing picture of the West painted by its enemies.”

It is strangely refreshing to see oneself through the eyes of another. It seems that we are all too used to pointing out the differences and wrongdoings in another, rather than in ourselves. Occidentalism, however, tries to target essential parts of Western culture, such as the Occidental city, the mercantile attitude of the West and Western love of comfort and rationality. However oblivious we may be to them in our everyday lives, these things are all too obvious to the Other.

 

Cultural differences have always been present and the identification of the ´otherness´ of others seems to be a fundamental human need. Skin-tone, eye-shape, clothing, religion, language and other forms of expression are among the things that we have picked up on for centuries in order to form a picture of the other against which we could recognize ourselves as different. There is no getting around this tendency and we become acquainted with it from a young age, for instance by reading stories or watching films that revolve around the fight of ´good´ against ´evil.´

Occidentalism helps the reader to enhance his cultural awareness, something which allows one to see the positive and negative aspects of cultural differences. Not only is this book a useful tool for trying to understand ourselves (to understand the other, you have to know yourself and vice versa), it is also relevant when delving into the deeper motives of movements such as Al Qaeda. What it clearly shows is that suicide bombers and holy warriors aren’t new phenomena; their ideas are rooted in a long history of anti-Western thought.

 

When living at the West, it’s easy to get sucked into a daze. There are endless things to focus on: billboards advertising the latest female deodorant or action movie, stores selling clothes catering to every possible human expression of style, restaurants in different price categories, trendy café’s, supermarkets, casino’s and the list goes on. It’s easy to think that life is uncomplicated in the West. There will always be a something around to satisfy our needs and we will always be looked after in exchange for money; after all, “everything and everyone is for sale.”

The visual imagery just constructed brings to mind the big, Western city. Cities, more than countries, seem to be the units that portray the essence of modern life. Big cities, however, are also one of the clearest examples of Western capitalism, consumerism and supposed immorality, which non-Western societies are especially sensitive towards. Pop artist Andy Warhol already highlighted the consumerist tinge of our society by depicting Coca Cola bottles and cans of Campbell´s soup as art, which reflected and defined the world he lived in. His work was hugely popular in the West and its message open to many interpretations. As it lacked a heavily moralizing message, it didn’t turn many people against the workings of their own society (although many people in the West don’t feel positive about materialsm and mass-production).

To Occidentalists, however, Western cities are clearly opposed to everything that is profound, authentic and spiritual. In addition to this, mass consumption also means mass participation in politics, which can be seen as dangerous. It is striking that materialism also seems to be more than present in the East. Countries with a fast growing middle-class, such as China, are a good example of this. And just because a woman is dressed in a burqa, doesn´t mean she doesn´t have a fashion sense or never shops at (Western inspired) malls either. It is puzzling but interesting to see how countries in the East marry ‘Oriental’ traditions with practices associated with a Western lifestyle.

In Occidentalism it is mentioned that soullessness is seen as a consequence of the metropolitan hubris and that “religious men have been exercised since ancient times by the dissipation of spirituality in the pursuit of wealth.” The attack on the Twin Towers, a symbol of global capitalism, therefore represented everything hateful to the holy warrior about the greatest modern City of Man, according to the writers.

It is easy, as a Westerner, to take for granted the Western mindset. The West viewed through Occidentalist eyes is overly rational and focused on personal gain. Non-rational sources of knowledge, such as religion, standing in contrast to science, are deemed superstitious.  What the shallow Western mind lacks, according to Occidentalists is intuition, spirituality and an understanding of human suffering.

Indeed, it seems like pain or suffering is something that we, in the West are trying to run away from as fast as possible. Suffering should be replaced by a constant state of happiness; something which seems to have become our primary goals in life.  Instead of accepting suffering as an essential part of human life, we seem intent on banishing it with the help of therapy or distractions in the form of entertainment, drugs or comforting food and drink (alcohol, fast food,). Many magazines and books are devoted to the theme of happiness. The big question is: what can I do to make myself happy? Most often, the answer lies in either buying something or tricking your mind into not acknowledging your unhappiness anymore. 

Throughout the book, something that seems to come back is the act of ‘settling’ for comfort and for the reasonable, which is perceived to be a typically Western thing to do.  Mediocrity, the fear of being original or of undertaking heroic acts, which supposedly help a nation progress, are things that seem to pervade Western society according to Occidentalists. The end result is leading an uninspiring, sheltered life. However, one could be say that although people in the West do tend to choose for comfort and leading a sheltered life, the West collectively is a potent force.

In the book it is mentioned how Kireyevsky “interpreted Aristotle’s golden rule as a rule for avoiding extremes and seeking the average, which is another name for mediocrity.” (p. 92) This stands in contrast to Islamic suicide bombers’ will to die for something greater than themselves, something which gives their lives meaning. As is stated in Occidentalism, “Self-sacrifice for a higher cause, for an ideal world, cleansed of human greed and injustice, is the one way for the average man to feel heroic. Better to die gloriously for an ideal than to live in Komfortismus. Choosing to die a violent death becomes a heroic act of human will.”

In short, reading Occidentalism is definitely a thing I would recommend. It’s a bit like being a tourist in your own city: you re-discover things that you were familiar with all along.