Banishing Orientalism

Dancing between Exotic and Familiar

By: Phil Chan

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Opium dreams, nodding geishas, feisty harem slavegirls, seductive temple dancers. . . .Performances on the great European stages often depicted "exotic" peoples, places, and plots, expanding the European imagination and providing innovation in opera and classical ballet. The outdated portrayals in traditional masterpieces no longer work for diverse contemporary audiences, and yet canceling them is not a good answer. In Banishing Orientalism, Phil Chan shows us that applying a dash of creativity improves cultural representation and eliminates cultural appropriation—allowing us to lovingly shepherd these works into the 21st century for diverse audiences.