Title Virtual orientalism : Asian religions and American popular culture / Jane Naomi Iwamura

Published New York : Oxford University Press, 2011

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Description 1 online resource (xi, 214 pages) : illustrations Contents Introduction -- Zen's personality -- Hyperreal Samadhi -- The monk goes Hollywood Summary Saffron-robed monks and long-haired gurus have become familiar characters on the American popular culture scene. This book examines the contemporary fascination with Eastern spirituality and provides a cultural history of the representation of Asian religions in American mass media. Initial engagements with Asian spiritual heritages were mediated by monks, gurus, bhikkhus, sages, sifus, healers, and masters from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds and religious traditions. Virtual Orientalism shows the evolution of these interactions, from direct engagements with specific individuals, to mediated relations with a conventionalized icon. Visually and psychically compelling, the Oriental Monk becomes for Americans a "figure of translation"--A convenient symbol for alternative spiritualities and modes of being. Through the figure of the solitary Monk, who generously and purposefully shares his wisdom with the West, Asian religiosity is made manageable -- psychologically, socially, and politically -- for popular culture consumption. On an historical level, the books argues that American mass awareness of Asian religions coincides with the advent of visually-oriented media (magazines, television, and film) and examines how technological transformations ushered in a new form of Orientalism -- virtual Orientalism -- prevalent since the late 1950s. Although popular engagement with Asian religions in the U.S. has increased, the fact that much of this has taken virtual form makes stereotypical constructions of "the spiritual East" obdurate and especially difficult to challenge. Representational moments in Virtual Orientalism's development that are examined include: D.T. Suzuki and the 1950s Zen Boom; the Maharishi Mahesh and his celebrity followers in the 1960s and; Kwai Chang Caine in the popular 1970 television series, Kung Fu Publisher description Jane Iwamura examines contemporary fascination with Eastern spirituality and provides a cultural history of the representation of Asian religions in American mass media. At the heart of her study is the Oriental Monk, a non-sexual, solitary, conventionalized icon who generously and purposefully shares his wisdom with the West Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index Notes English Master and use copy. Digital master created according to Benchmark for Faithful Digital Reproductions of Monographs and Serials, Version 1. Digital Library Federation, December 2002. http://purl.oclc.org/DLF/benchrepro0212 MiAaHDL Print version record digitized 2011 HathiTrust Digital Library committed to preserve pda MiAaHDL SUBJECT Suzuki, Daisetz Teitaro, 1870-1966 -- Influence Maharishi Mahesh Yogi -- Influence Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. fast (OCoLC)fst00032056 Suzuki, Daisetz Teitaro, 1870-1966. fast (OCoLC)fst00040273 Suzuki, Daisetz Teitaro. idszbz Maharischi Mahesch Jogi. idszbz Kung fu (Television program : 1972-1975) -- Influence Kung fu (Television program : 1972-1975) fast (OCoLC)fst01759666 Subject Monasticism and religious orders -- Asia -- Influence Orientalism -- United States -- History -- 20th century Popular culture -- United States -- History -- 20th century Popular culture -- Religious aspects -- History -- 20th century RELIGION -- History. TRAVEL -- Special Interest -- Religious. Religion. Influence (Literary, artistic, etc.) Monasticism and religious orders -- Influence. Orientalism. Popular culture. Popular culture -- Religious aspects. Religion. Oriëntalisme. Indische godsdiensten. Religiosität. Pop-Kultur. Buddhismus. Hinduismus. Östliche Philosophie. Rezeption. SUBJECT United States -- Religion -- 20th century Subject Asia. United States. Verenigde Staten. USA. Genre/Form History. Form Electronic book ISBN 9780199792313 0199792313 9780199894604 0199894604 9786612941665 6612941669 1282941666 9781282941663

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