Oriental Fantasy.

Apparently, one single word fans the flames of a slew of -isms.

In a major blow against the putative sins of colonialism, imperialism, capitalism, and all the other “isms” of the academic left (if you’ll excuse the redundancy), the University of Oxford’s Faculty of Oriental Studies has changed its name to the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.

Oriental, according to the Oxford Dictionary–where else to look it up?–means “connected with or typical of the eastern part of the world, especially China and Japan, and the people who live there.” According to the Hindu Times story however, quoting someone, the word “stank of colonialism.” Oxford’s decision was thus made

[‘A]mid concerns that the previous name could be derogatory to racial or ethnic minorities.’

Scholars of the faculty which was founded in the 19th century felt that the word ‘Oriental’ in the name had echoes of British colonialism, the report added, saying that the change comes after a two-year rigorous consultation process with staff and students. (Italics added).

(They seem to have an awful lot of time to kill at Oxford.)

Your Tatler remembers years ago hearing much whinging over the alleged racist implications of that seemingly innocent word Oriental, but was never able to glean the reasons. Like the above, the complaints seem to originate from ivory tower Caucasians, who always seem be first decreeing what is and what is not racist. We wonder when Occidental, Boreal and Austral join poor Oriental in the liberal Index librorum prohibitorum.

Bickerstaff, unmistakenly Caucasian, is hiwever not alone dismissing the silliness over the suspect word. Consider the views of this Oriental, in the LA Times, no less.

h/t GWR.