Xenophily
Encyclopedia
Xenophily or xenophilia means an affection for unknown objects or peoples
. It is the opposite of xenophobia
or xenophoby. The word is a synthesis from the Greek "xenos" (stranger, unknown, foreign) and "philia" (love, attraction).
, primarily the space opera
sub-genre, in which one explores the consequences of love and sexual intercourse between humans and extraterrestrials, particularly humanoid ones. A satirical example is XXXenophile
, an X-rated comic book written by Phil Foglio
. A more somber example is the relationship of Sarek and Amanda Grayson (Spock
's parents) in Star Trek. There are also multiple examples of xenophilia between the main character and his or her alien shipmates in the Mass Effect (series)
of games for the Xbox360, PC, and most recently the Playstation 3
In the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, a character named Xenophilius Lovegood (the father of one of Harry Potter
's more eccentric friends, Luna Lovegood) is characterized by his interest in unusual or unknown objects, animals, and concepts - as his name unmistakably implies.
The film Watermelon Man
centers in part around a white man trying to have sex with a white woman he works with. His efforts fail until he is magically turned into an African American at which point she is more than willing to sleep with him. It is only the following day that the protagonist realizes to his horror that the woman is a Xenophile and only had sex with him because of his race she had no interest in him as a person.
, described the influence of xenophilia in politics, which he saw as negative:
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
. It is the opposite of xenophobia
Xenophobia
Xenophobia is defined as "an unreasonable fear of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange". It comes from the Greek words ξένος , meaning "stranger," "foreigner" and φόβος , meaning "fear."...
or xenophoby. The word is a synthesis from the Greek "xenos" (stranger, unknown, foreign) and "philia" (love, attraction).
In fiction
Xenophilia is a theme found in science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, primarily the space opera
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
sub-genre, in which one explores the consequences of love and sexual intercourse between humans and extraterrestrials, particularly humanoid ones. A satirical example is XXXenophile
XXXenophile
XXXenophile is an American comic book series, published by Palliard Press and later Studio Foglio. It is an anthology of short, whimsical, erotic fantasy and science fiction stories, written and penciled by Phil Foglio. Each story is inked by a different artist.XXXenophile was originally...
, an X-rated comic book written by Phil Foglio
Phil Foglio
Philip "Phil" Foglio is an American cartoonist and comic book artist best known for his humorous science fiction and fantasy work.-Early life and career:...
. A more somber example is the relationship of Sarek and Amanda Grayson (Spock
Spock
Spock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by Leonard Nimoy in the original Star Trek series, Spock also appears in the animated Star Trek series, two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, seven of the Star Trek feature films, and numerous Star Trek...
's parents) in Star Trek. There are also multiple examples of xenophilia between the main character and his or her alien shipmates in the Mass Effect (series)
Mass Effect (series)
Mass Effect is an award-winning, bestselling series of science fiction RPG third-person shooter video games developed by the Canadian company BioWare and released for the Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows and, from the second installment, for the PlayStation 3...
of games for the Xbox360, PC, and most recently the Playstation 3
In the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, a character named Xenophilius Lovegood (the father of one of Harry Potter
Harry Potter (character)
Harry James Potter is the title character and main protagonist of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. The majority of the books' plot covers seven years in the life of the orphan Potter who, on his eleventh birthday, learns he is a wizard...
's more eccentric friends, Luna Lovegood) is characterized by his interest in unusual or unknown objects, animals, and concepts - as his name unmistakably implies.
The film Watermelon Man
Watermelon Man
Watermelon Man may refer to:*"Watermelon Man" , a composition written by Herbie Hancock*Watermelon Man , a 1970 film directed by Melvin Van Peebles and starring Godfrey Cambridge...
centers in part around a white man trying to have sex with a white woman he works with. His efforts fail until he is magically turned into an African American at which point she is more than willing to sleep with him. It is only the following day that the protagonist realizes to his horror that the woman is a Xenophile and only had sex with him because of his race she had no interest in him as a person.
In politics & history
George Washington, in his 1796 Farewell AddressGeorge Washington's Farewell Address
George Washington's Farewell Address was written to "The People of the United States" near the end of his second term as President of the United States and before his retirement to his home at Mount Vernon....
, described the influence of xenophilia in politics, which he saw as negative:
So likewise, a passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter without adequate inducement or justification. It leads also to concessions to the favorite nation of privileges denied to others which is apt doubly to injure the nation making the concessions; by unnecessarily parting with what ought to have been retained, and by exciting jealousy, ill-will, and a disposition to retaliate, in the parties from whom equal privileges are withheld. And it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens (who devote themselves to the favorite nation), facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country, without odium, sometimes even with popularity; gilding, with the appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation, a commendable deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good, the base or foolish compliances of ambition, corruption, or infatuation.
As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable ways, such attachments are particularly alarming to the truly enlightened and independent patriot. How many opportunities do they afford to tamper with domestic factions, to practice the arts of seduction, to mislead public opinion, to influence or awe the public councils. Such an attachment of a small or weak towards a great and powerful nation dooms the former to be the satellite of the latter.
See also
- Cultural appropriationCultural appropriationCultural appropriation is the adoption of some specific elements of one culture by a different cultural group. It describes acculturation or assimilation, but can imply a negative view towards acculturation from a minority culture by a dominant culture. It can include the introduction of forms of...
- Intercultural competenceIntercultural competenceIntercultural competence is the ability of successful communication with people of other cultures.A person who is interculturally competent captures and understands, in interaction with people from foreign cultures, their specific concepts in perception, thinking, feeling and acting...
- Xenology
- XenophobiaXenophobiaXenophobia is defined as "an unreasonable fear of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange". It comes from the Greek words ξένος , meaning "stranger," "foreigner" and φόβος , meaning "fear."...
- AllophiliaAllophiliaAllophilia is having positive attitude for a group that is not one's own. The term derived from Greek words meaning "liking or love of the other"....
- XenocentrismXenocentrismXenocentrism is a political neologism, coined as the antonym of ethnocentrism. Xenocentrism is the preference for the products, styles, or ideas of someone else's culture rather than of one's own...
- CuriosityCuriosityCuriosity is an emotion related to natural inquisitive behavior such as exploration, investigation, and learning, evident by observation in human and many animal species. The term can also be used to denote the behavior itself being caused by the emotion of curiosity...