Revue des Sciences Humaines & Sociales
Volume 11, Numéro 2, Pages 54-69
2025-12-31
America Through Arab Prism: Exploring Tapestries Of Ambivalence, Cultural Hybridization, And Otherness In Arabic Travel Writings
Authors : Bouali Amina .
Abstract
This article endeavours to examine the portrayal of America within Arabic travel literature by illuminating manifestations of ambivalence, cultural hybridisation, and representations of the Other in the writings of Arab travellers and literati such as Ameen Rihani, Mikhail Naimy, and Philip Hitti, alongside other feminine voices. The study employed a critical analytical methodology predicated upon readings of selected texts to trace the impact of engagement with American society in shaping Arab consciousness of the West. The analysis revealed that these journeys transcended mere geographical displacement, constituting profound epistemic experiences that enabled Arab writers to explore the American societal mosaic with its diverse languages, cultures, and lifestyles. The findings further demonstrated that these texts articulated ambivalent perspectives toward the West, combining admiration for vitality, plurality, and modernity with trenchant criticism of political hegemony, imperialism, and racism. Consequently, Arabic travel literature to America constitutes a fertile domain for comprehending the dialectical interplay between receptivity and rejection within modern Arab consciousness.
Keywords
Arabic travel literature ; Image of America ; Cultural hybridization ; Ambivalence ; Otherness
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