LEADER 03279nam 2200529Ia 450 001 9910817766203321 005 20200520144314.0 010 $a0-19-979285-2 010 $a1-282-94166-6 010 $a9786612941665 010 $a0-19-979231-3 035 $a(CKB)2670000000060842 035 $a(StDuBDS)AH24088141 035 $a(MiAaPQ)EBC1678702 035 $a(EXLCZ)992670000000060842 100 $a20100430d2010 uy 0 101 0 $aeng 135 $aur||||||||||| 181 $ctxt$2rdacontent 182 $cc$2rdamedia 183 $acr$2rdacarrier 200 10$aVirtual orientalism $eAsian religions and American popular culture /$fJane Naomi Iwamura 210 $aOxford ;$aNew York $cOxford University Press$d2010 215 $a1 online resource (240 p.) 311 $a0-19-973861-0 320 $aIncludes bibliographical references and index. 327 $aACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; INTRODUCTION; ZEN'S PERSONALITY - D.T. SUZUKI; HYPERREAL SAMADHI - MAHARISHI MAHESH YOGI; THE MONK GOES HOLLYWOOD - KUNG FU; CONCLUSION - SPIRITUAL ROMANCE TODAY; BIBLIOGRAPHY; INDEX 330 $aJane 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. 330 $bSaffron-robed monks and long-haired gurus have become familiar characters on the American pop culture scene. Jane Iwamura 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 non-sexual, solitary Monk, who generously and purposefully shares his wisdom with the West, Asian religiosity is made manageable - psychologically, socially, and politically - for American popular culture. 606 $aOrientalism$zUnited States$xHistory$y20th century 606 $aPopular culture$xReligious aspects$xHistory$y20th century 606 $aPopular culture$zUnited States$xHistory$y20th century 606 $aMonasticism and religious orders$zAsia$xInfluence 607 $aUnited States$xReligion$y20th century 615 0$aOrientalism$xHistory 615 0$aPopular culture$xReligious aspects$xHistory 615 0$aPopular culture$xHistory 615 0$aMonasticism and religious orders$xInfluence. 676 $a200.95/0973 700 $aIwamura$b Jane Naomi$01596612 801 0$bMiAaPQ 801 1$bMiAaPQ 801 2$bMiAaPQ 906 $aBOOK 912 $a9910817766203321 996 $aVirtual Orientalism$93918037 997 $aUNINA