| The critical theory of Said’s cultural imperialism,as an important component of the theoretical system of cultural imperialism,not only adds a postcolonial research perspective to the theoretical system of cultural imperialism,but also endows it with secularity,globalization,and contemporaneity.The critical theory of Said’s cultural imperialism completely negates the objectivity and scientificity of Orientalism,breaks the conventional understanding of the relationship between Eastern and Western cultures in the academic field,reveals the specific ways and operational models of Western imperialism implementing cultural hegemony,and deconstructs ideologies such as Western centrism and binary opposition from within the West.The critical theory of Said’s cultural imperialism comprehensively exposes the ambition of Western imperialism to control the world through collusion with culture,providing a theoretical basis and practical path for the resolution of Western cultural hegemony,and contributing theoretical strength to the important issue of resolving international cultural conflicts.The formation of Said’s critical theory of cultural imperialism benefited from the academic inspiration of many scholars such as Marx,Engels,Lenin,Foucault,and Gramsci.Research has shown that Marxist theory provides an important and guiding theoretical source for the critical theory of Said’s cultural imperialism.Lenin’s imperialist theory has established a firm critical stance for him,Foucault’s theory of power discourse has contributed precise conceptual interpretation,and Gramsci’s theory of cultural leadership has provided profound insights into the relationship between Eastern and Western cultures.On the basis of absorbing many theoretical sources,Said joined the unique perspective of Third World elite intellectuals and strongly condemned and criticized Western cultural colonialism and cultural imperialism,forming his critical theory of cultural imperialism.The critical theory of Said’s cultural imperialism focuses on the power discourse and cultural hegemony behind Orientalism.Said broke the authority and scientificity of Orientalism as a discipline,criticizing the West’s use of Orientalism to invade and exploit the East.Said believed that Orientalism may seem like a discipline formed in the mainstream academic field of the West,objectively describing the situation in the East,but in reality,it is a distortion,construction,and compilation of the East by the West.The purpose of constructing Orientalism in the West is to impose Western ideas,values,and cultural traditions on the East through cultural infiltration,in order to control and invade the East.Said believed that the essence of Orientalism is Western cultural hegemony,with the fundamental purpose of strengthening Western rule over the East.Orientalism is an important component of Western cultural imperialism.The critical theory of Said’s cultural imperialism examines the universal forms of imperial culture worldwide and the historical experience of resisting empires,highlighting the resistance and struggle against cultural colonization in colonial relations.Said expanded his research scope from the Middle East to the widespread and global cultural imperialism,revealing the hidden dissemination of Western imperialist ideology through classic texts based on a large number of Western classic cultural works.Said further proposed to identify and deconstruct cultural hegemony hidden in Western texts through concepts and reference structures,counterpoint reading methods,and reverse writing imperialism,in order to counter the strong output of Western cultural imperialism.The critical theory of Said’s cultural imperialism discusses the construction of the contemporary world cultural pattern,pointing out that the coexistence of multiple cultures is the direction of constructing the contemporary cultural pattern.The coexistence pattern of multiculturalism not only helps to dissolve the erosion of Western cultural hegemony,but also promotes the mutual absorption and reference of human culture,achieving common progress and development of world culture.Said believed that hybridity is a characteristic of contemporary cultural development,and the construction of the world cultural pattern should be led by humanistic ideas with secular and critical qualities.Contemporary intellectuals with critical spirit should be regarded as inheritors and practitioners of cultural views,in order to achieve harmonious coexistence and common development of different cultures.The critical theory of Said’s cultural imperialism takes Marxist theory as an important guiding ideology,providing academic value and theoretical contributions to the academic field.However,there are many theoretical limitations and shortcomings.This theory has opened up a new theoretical research path for Orientalism,interpreted and dissolved the theoretical construction dominated by Western centrism,expanded the cultural connotation of Marxist anti colonial theory and class struggle mode,and endowed the cultural imperialism theoretical system with secularity,globalization,and contemporaneity.Due to a certain degree of misreading and misinterpretation of Marxist theory by Said,his critical theory of cultural imperialism has limited its focus to cultural research,lacking analysis of economic roots,and having a biased understanding of Western narrative,colonial history,and cultural hegemony.The critical theory of Said’s cultural imperialism has provided important inspiration for contemporary Chinese cultural construction.Said provided constructive suggestions in various aspects,including identifying and resisting the invasion of Western cultural imperialism,revitalizing the development of our own national culture,and enhancing our national cultural confidence.As a developing country,China needs to have a clear understanding of the Western cultural hegemony of contemporary digitization and informatization,and effectively identify the infiltration methods of contemporary Western cultural imperialism.By shaping a new pattern of national cultural security and resisting the invasion of Western cultural imperialism.By promoting the creative transformation and development of excellent traditional Chinese culture,improving the new form of Chinese civilization,enhancing the soft power of Chinese culture,enhancing the confidence of Chinese culture,and contributing Chinese wisdom and strength to achieve harmonious coexistence of world culture. |
