exoticism

Exoticism refers to a tendency in art and cultural discourse to depict distant cultures as exotic, other, or alluring. It encompasses a broad range of practices—visual arts, literature, music, cinema, and fashion—where motifs, settings, or subjects are framed as foreign or “the other” and are often stylized to evoke mystery, romance, adventure, or danger. The term describes a mode of representation that treats cultural difference as a source of fascination or spectacle rather than as a neutral or accurate portrayal.

Historically, exoticism is associated with European encounters with non-European worlds, particularly during the colonial era of the 18th through early 20th centuries. It intersects with Orientalism, a framework popularized by Edward Said, which analyzes how Western artists and scholars depicted Eastern societies as timeless, decadent, and seductive, thereby reinforcing unequal power relations. Similar imaginaries appeared in depictions of Africa, the Pacific, and the Americas.

Critics argue that exoticism often reduces complex cultures to stereotypes and commodifies difference for Western audiences. It can perpetuate essentialist views and justify imperial hierarchies, though some scholars and artists view it as a site of critique, hybridity, or cross-cultural exchange when engaged with reflexivity or subversion.

In practice, exoticism has manifested in painting (oriental or near-eastern scenes in 19th-century European art), in literature and travel writing, in music through gamelan-inspired or other non-Western motifs, and in film and fashion that evoke foreign settings. In modern contexts, the term is discussed critically, with attention to power, representation, and audience reception.