The Ottoman Empire, Orientalism and the Quest of Self-Representation at the Chicago World's Fair 1893

Seminar paper from the year 2023 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Other, grade: 1,7, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, language: English, abstract: This paper wants to explore the relation between the Ottoman Empire and Orientalism. In doing so, the focus is on, firstly, what the Ottoman empire and particularly its European presence reveal about Orientalism. Although the Ottomans ruled in Europe, they were never regarded as European. The presence of a Muslim European power who was at times on equal terms with counterparts on the European continent was occluded for the sake of a homogenous Western identity. Secondly, this paper will have a closer look into the Ottomans interaction with Orientalism. In order to do that, the Ottoman self-representation at the Chicago World's Fair 1893 will be assessed. World Fair's throughout the 19th century are performative events on a global scale where power relations are expressed and negotiated on the basis of prevalent discourses. Therefore, the Ottomans' very well documented participation at the fair will help to elucidate and unearth how Orientalism is not limited to the 'archival vacuum' and asymmetric power dynamics are maintained.