Question

As colonialism led to increased interaction with non-Westerners, Europeans came to recognize that much of what they took for granted as natural was not. For example, American architecture relies on Greek styles of columns, a product of tradition.

Evaluate the statements regarding the Lincoln Memorial and the Blue Mosque, and identify which one is ethnocentric.

Answer 1

The statement about the Lincoln Memorial is more ethnocentric than that about the Blue Mosque. The Lincoln Memorial is a symbol of American history and values, so it is natural for Americans to see it as timeless. However, the Blue Mosque does not have the same significance to non-Westerners because it is a symbol of Islam and Islamic culture.

Both statements are ethnocentric to some extent, but the Lincoln Memorial is more so because it is more culturally significant to Western audiences.