Orientalism in "Eat, Pray, Love."

[Kind of Blue]

"Eat Pray Love" is just one of the recent movies to romanticize travel along the Silk Road. This year, movies about women awakening to their true passions while traveling to the Middle East include Cairo Time and "Sex and the City 2."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129254808

on edit: haven't listened to it yet so I don't know whether the review is negative or positive or betwixt.

[Celebration]

1. was more about the trend in movies re: an eastern slant

Eh, I don't really see enough movies to comment on that. I'm not sure that including Bali as one part of a movie can be compared to another movie that has the mideast in it. "Eastern" is a pretty big location. Just about anything Asian fits into that. No wonder there are a lot of movies with "East" in it.

She thought the Bali guy was stereotyped. Well, it was a true story, and I got the idea that part of the charm of the guys was some of the stereotypical things that seemed to fit.

I think my favorite part of the book was where she was practically scammed by the woman that she was helping.......(by getting her friends to donate for a house) AND the attitude of her husband to be. Anyone love that part of the book. I hope that is prominently in the movie.

[Sanity Claws]

2. The movie did not cover the scam about the house donation

In fact, it panned later to the alleged house being built, using the blue tile the little girl so loved.

What was the attitude of the husband to be? I don't remember it. I remember Gilbert talking about the difficulties he encountered entering the US and how it would be easier if they were married.

[Celebration]

3. oh, too bad

He went along with her, knowing the people of Bali well enough that he knew she was being scammed. All he did was just give her one hint that things might not be as they seemed. And, he knew she had to figure this out for herself, all in good time, with maybe a little nudge from him at the right time. And that is indeed what happened. On the surface he had been totally encouraging her efforts, supporting her in her frustrations. Lots of other men might have just come out and said, "Are you crazy? Can't you see through this?" That did not happen. I absolutely loved that part of the whole book. It took the tale to a different level--added dimension to the story. I hate it that they left that out of the movie. Oh, no. Ugh. Too, too bad--they do tend to drop any subtleties out of movies.

[Kind of Blue]

4. Well, I haven't read the book but heard

a lot about it, just like I'm hearing about the movie.

I don't know if the commentary was really about the veracity of the depictions but more on what Hollywood chooses to show in general, and certainly EPL not a big offender of stereotyping.

Speaking to a couple of East Asian friends who saw it, they thought it was stereotypical, both not liking a Yoda reference - I guess about the fortuneteller.

Spoke to another who spent many years in India, appreciated the movie but found it lacking in spirituality because it's hard to explain one's own, she surmised - no big revelations, not much in finding out what the character really learned. But I think it's how the movie is being promoted - as one of enlightenment.

I don't know. I'm coming away thinking that it's all of the above and none of the above, but maybe just the author's story and not a how-to book.

[Helga Scow Stern]

5. Maybe too it will eventually help bring to light the shadow

of spiritual groups, as this article suggests. I think of it as having to do with the T-square between Saturn, Jupiter, and Pluto.
http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2010/08/14/eat_pray_love_guru_sex_scandals

[Kind of Blue]

6. Wow! Wasn't expecting that bombshell.

Could you please explain T-square between Saturn, Jupiter, and Pluto in relation to this? I do have a sense of what you mean from being here at ASAH, but what do you deduce?

Guess the bottom-line is do your homework. Thanks for another view of Gilbert's fascinating.

[LaurenG]

7. I wanted to pop in for just a minute to say although I really like Elizabeth Gilbert,

I listened to her book and it was not one of my favorites. My sister and niece said the movie was good though, they both enjoyed it. The book was interesting in parts because it was about the author’s life and there were lots of places throughout that I could relate to emotionally. She also seems like a fair person and I admire that very much.

More to the point of what I really wanted to say was that, I have a picture of Gurumayi Chidvilasananda or just Guru Mayi in my spare bedroom. I've had that picture since 1994 when my teacher introduced me to Guru Mayi and taught me many of the things that she was taught in the ashram in India. I spent many years learning from my teacher and in the learning found that there are not so nice human things in all people, even in those who aspire to teach spiritual subjects. I have never sent money to or spent time in an ashram, nor do I think I would, but that doesn’t take away from those who do because that is what the person thought they needed at the time. I support people in doing what they feel is right for them as long as it doesn’t harm others.

The fact that Guru Mayi’s Guru was a sex addict doesn’t take away from the work that Guru Mayi has done. She brought peace and discipline to my teacher and that was a positive considering how hardened my teacher had become before embarking on her vocation as a teacher herself. There are always many sides to all of us and though as I said I am not a guru follower I think Guru Mayi helped pave the way for many people to clear a space to begin the journey that is really the most important part of life to many of us.

That is really all I wanted to add. :hi:

[Kind of Blue]

8. Yeah, I think the most important point that

can't be overstressed is that everyone should be aware that "there are not so nice human things in all people, even in those who aspire to teach spiritual subjects," and proceed from there with eyes-wide open :hi:

Siddha Yoga responds to Salon story
http://www.salon.com/life/feature/story/index.html?story=/mwt/feature/2010/08/16/sya_response_to_eat_pray_love_story