FRÄMLINGEN (Foreigners). Dröm Eller Hot (Dream or Threat)

Author:
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish/ English summaries
Year Published: 1996
No. of pages: 153
Illustrations: 17 Color Illustrations. 51 B&W Illustrations.
Binding: Hardbound w/ jacket
Size: 11”x 9”
Weight: 2.00
ISBN: 9171005323
Biblio/Bio: Cat. of exh. Bibl.
Code: 3776

Price: $29.50

In the spirit of today’s youth, this highly controversial topic regarding the attitudes of the West towards “foreigners” comes to light through this examination of the representations of foreigners in art. The tone of these representations range from respect, pity, to forthright hatred, though Western hierarchy is often expressed very subtly. Also, the concept of the exotic has always been a source of intrigue, especially in art. Through our abilities of thought and imagination, we can remove ourselves from our reality and create a dream-world where everything is markedly different. A foreign culture can be romanticized when there is dissatisfication with one’s own reality. Yet, nationalistic feelings, for example, can change a dream about a beautiful island culture in the south into the belief that the culture is made up lazy individuals. This book attempts to illuminate the dividing line between exoticism and hatred through numerous essays such as, “Dream of the Orient,” “Concept of the African,” and “Swedes’ impression of Laplanders,” to name a few.