Comments on: The Belly of the Beast: Belly Dancing as a new form of Orientalism http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2007/11/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/ Looking at Muslim women in the media and pop culture Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:25:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Z http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2007/11/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/#comment-215 Z Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:36:59 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/#comment-215 oh, and the "you" in "you dont have to be a part of that" wasn't directed at "you" personally but was the general "you" if that makes sense. oh, and the “you” in “you dont have to be a part of that” wasn’t directed at “you” personally but was the general “you” if that makes sense.

]]> By: Z http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2007/11/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/#comment-214 Z Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:35:38 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/#comment-214 bellydance is a dance that belongs to everyone. It's not a "muslim dance" This dance form has cropped up in several cultures across the east over many thousands of years. And I don't buy that it's not sexual. Women have always moved their bodies in this way. And women have always seduced men. You don't have to be a part of that, but it's revisionist history to deny it. I agree that it is offensive to assume your national identity should or can be wrapped up in bellydance, but no one "owns this dance" bellydance is a dance that belongs to everyone. It’s not a “muslim dance” This dance form has cropped up in several cultures across the east over many thousands of years.

And I don’t buy that it’s not sexual. Women have always moved their bodies in this way. And women have always seduced men. You don’t have to be a part of that, but it’s revisionist history to deny it.

I agree that it is offensive to assume your national identity should or can be wrapped up in bellydance, but no one “owns this dance”

]]> By: Zeynab http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2007/11/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/#comment-222 Zeynab Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:14:00 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/#comment-222 Thank you, Sashenka, for the link. Since I am not a live journal user, I was unable to post anything, but I wanted to address some of the comments.By reading the comments, I think cleojones was the one who understood my point of view the most. I make it clear that I don't mind if non-Middle Eastern women bellydance or perform. I wrote this article very thoughtfully, carefully. I think my tone is only perceived as hostile by those who feel guilty. Also, for the record, I do not "belly dance." So many of the commenters assumed I was simply because of my ethnicity. Thank you, Sashenka, for the link. Since I am not a live journal user, I was unable to post anything, but I wanted to address some of the comments.By reading the comments, I think cleojones was the one who understood my point of view the most. I make it clear that I don’t mind if non-Middle Eastern women bellydance or perform. I wrote this article very thoughtfully, carefully. I think my tone is only perceived as hostile by those who feel guilty. Also, for the record, I do not “belly dance.” So many of the commenters assumed I was simply because of my ethnicity.

]]> By: Sashenka http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2007/11/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/#comment-221 Sashenka Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:45:00 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/#comment-221 http://community.livejournal.com/bellydancing/1987748.html?view=19133860#t19133860Some alternative views generated by the article. http://community.livejournal.com/bellydancing/1987748.html?view=19133860#t19133860Some alternative views generated by the article.

]]> By: Margari Aziza http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2007/11/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/#comment-220 Margari Aziza Wed, 07 Nov 2007 09:26:00 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/#comment-220 Masha'Allah!! Great piece. I also have problems with the sub-culture of Western Bellydancers. The last time I saw a Belly Dance troupe was at an opening of a Tuareg exhibition at Stanford. I was like, what does Northern Mali have to do with Belly Dancing? And in fact, what does Tuareg culture have to do with Belly dancing? Oh yes, the men veil and look dangerous. And the Tuareg are Muslim. The "Tribal" belly dancers at the show killed me too. I wondered what tribe they came from? Qabilat Hippies min Berkeley? yuck! They were all tatooed up with body piercings, dreads. Masha’Allah!! Great piece. I also have problems with the sub-culture of Western Bellydancers. The last time I saw a Belly Dance troupe was at an opening of a Tuareg exhibition at Stanford. I was like, what does Northern Mali have to do with Belly Dancing? And in fact, what does Tuareg culture have to do with Belly dancing? Oh yes, the men veil and look dangerous. And the Tuareg are Muslim. The “Tribal” belly dancers at the show killed me too. I wondered what tribe they came from? Qabilat Hippies min Berkeley? yuck! They were all tatooed up with body piercings, dreads.

]]> By: Shakira http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2007/11/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/#comment-219 Shakira Wed, 07 Nov 2007 02:22:00 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/#comment-219 I also get annoyed by the "politically correct" Western belly dancers, I have to say. The ones that talk about reclaiming their body image ("it's only the West that fetishises particular body types!" - yeah, right) or who claim that in the Middle East it isn't regarded as sexy at all. A friend was telling me yesterday that she was at a Reclaim the Night event, where a woman got up and said "I'm going to perform a non-sexual belly dance!" - it was, of course, very sexy. I also get annoyed by the “politically correct” Western belly dancers, I have to say. The ones that talk about reclaiming their body image (“it’s only the West that fetishises particular body types!” – yeah, right) or who claim that in the Middle East it isn’t regarded as sexy at all. A friend was telling me yesterday that she was at a Reclaim the Night event, where a woman got up and said “I’m going to perform a non-sexual belly dance!” – it was, of course, very sexy.

]]> By: Safiya http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2007/11/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/#comment-218 Safiya Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:10:00 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/#comment-218 Salaam Alaikum,Good article. Although I do need to learn to belly dance so I don't get shown up at anymore family parties. The best dancer at my wedding party was my Mother-in-Law, she schooled everyone else! Salaam Alaikum,Good article. Although I do need to learn to belly dance so I don’t get shown up at anymore family parties. The best dancer at my wedding party was my Mother-in-Law, she schooled everyone else!

]]> By: Zeynab http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2007/11/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/#comment-217 Zeynab Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:56:00 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/#comment-217 OOPS! Thanks! OOPS! Thanks!

]]> By: Melinda http://www.patheos.com/blogs/mmw/2007/11/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/#comment-216 Melinda Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:48:00 +0000 http://muslimahmediawatch.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/the-belly-of-the-beast-belly-dancing-as-a-new-form-of-orientalism-2/#comment-216 A very well done piece! It's so true that the common image of the Middle East is of snakes, veils, and swords.(By the way, in the second to last sentence, I think there's a typo here: "is permeated will.") A very well done piece! It’s so true that the common image of the Middle East is of snakes, veils, and swords.(By the way, in the second to last sentence, I think there’s a typo here: “is permeated will.”)

]]>