Orientalism in Dominions

[Ylvali]

One complication in trying to make a less orientalistic approach to for example Japan or China is that orientalism is now a fairly central part of Japanese/Chinese self-image. Movies from china and Japan for example, does little to challenge our orientalistic perspective. Akira kurosawa fits with Jomon like a glove (save the ninjas). Could explain why Dominions is popular in Japan (at least I stumbled upon a japanese dominions fora) Same can be said about China and mythological flicks like Grouching tiger, hero, etc...

The opening ceremony of the olympic games also streamlines perfectly with most every prejudice I have of china. What was emphasized there and is missing in Tien´chi would be chinas past scientific and technological advantage. MA TC could have some kind of explosives for example.

Note that I deliberatly make examples of big commersialized stuff. Of course there is a vast source of different perspectives in china. I just mean that those perspectives aren´t really infuential compared to the post-colonial, even there. If dominions was made in china I´sure it would be very different, but not at all so sure it would be less orientalistic.

Bandar would be more problematic though. It hardly reflects the extremely varied and fragmentized indian culture. On the other hand india could make for a number of dom3 nations with all its different cultures.

One thing I miss is a mongolian theme with shamanism, sheep and horses roaming the great plains. Barbarian kings don´t really fill the spot. I guess there is a bit of the flavour in bogarus...

Bandar exile recruits in certain nations (bogarus for example) to represent gypsies would be interesting as well.

As would more diverse and historical african themes.

But hey, I´d still say Dominions fairly exeptional for a computer game in it´s approach to non european cultures. And I mean that in a positive way.

Very interestin discussion BTW.

Ylvali