Failures East and West: Cultural Encounters Between East Asia and Europe

Cultural encounters between East Asia and Europe are often framed as failures, but this book argues that a focus on failure helps to uncover the normative perspectives and expectations of intercultural encounters. It brings together scholars from Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, English Studies, and French Studies to present new perspectives on instances of misunderstandings, ignorance, unrealistic expectations, or unbridgeable cultural differences. Case studies range from first encounters in the early modern period to contemporary novels and focus on actual or imaginary encounters between East Asia and Western European cultures.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 30 April 2023
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

The narrative of interactions between Asia and the West has frequently been portrayed as a tale of triumph, characterized by cross-fertilization, reciprocal stimulation, and the exchange of goods and knowledge. However, the history of East-West encounters is replete with notable instances of miscommunication, ignorance, unrealistic expectations, and insurmountable cultural disparities. By bringing together scholars from various fields such as Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, English Studies, and French Studies, this book offers fresh perspectives on these instances by theorizing epistemologies of failure. Through the presentation of examples from different periods and disciplines, it becomes evident how culturally informed expectations and biases, performative and linguistic practices, and imaginative horizons specific to the cultures involved shape notions of failure and success. The case studies encompassed in this book range from early modern encounters to contemporary novels and revolve around actual or fictional interactions between East Asia and Western European cultures.

Intercultural encounters between East Asia and Europe have often been framed as failures, offering a unique perspective on these interactions. By focusing on failures as a paradigm, this book opens up fresh avenues for understanding intercultural encounters. It argues that a focus on failure helps to uncover the normative perspectives and expectations that shape these encounters.

The book establishes that intercultural encounters add a valuable new dimension to the emerging field of failure studies. It challenges the notion that success is the only outcome of intercultural interactions and emphasizes the importance of understanding the complexities and nuances of failure.

The book brings together scholars from various disciplines, including Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, English Studies, and French Studies, to explore the epistemologies of failure. It provides examples from different periods and disciplines, showcasing how culturally informed expectations and biases, performative and linguistic practices, and imaginative horizons specific to the cultures involved shape notions of failure and success.

Case studies range from early modern encounters to contemporary novels, highlighting the enduring impact of cultural differences on intercultural interactions. The book emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing these differences to promote more successful and meaningful exchanges.

In conclusion, this book offers a valuable contribution to the study of intercultural encounters by challenging the notion of success and highlighting the importance of understanding failure. It provides a rich and nuanced perspective on these interactions, shedding light on the normative perspectives and expectations that shape them. By focusing on failures as a paradigm, the book opens up new avenues for understanding and promoting intercultural understanding and cooperation.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399500517