Orientalism feeds stereotypes

The concept of Orientalism is not only stagnant in one area, meaning that it only focuses on the Orient but around other countries and even within our communities. What we see on television or what we understand about other cultures is corrupted. As Americans, for example, we have westernized ideologies of other countries. For instance, if one was to simply mention Africa, what are the first thoughts that prompt? A lion? A giraffe? A black naked man with a wooden spear? What about Australia? Many people think about kangaroos! How far has the concept of Orientalism gone? “The principal product of this exteriority is of course representation: as early as Aeschylus’s play The Persians the Orient is transformed from a very far distant and often threatening otherness into figures that are relatively familiar (in Aeschylus’s case, grieving Asiatic women). The dramatic immediacy of representation in The Persians obscures the fact that the audience is watching a highly artificial enactment of what a non-Oriental has made into a symbol for the whole Orient” (Said 875). What we understand about culture is relied upon what we see or what culture we are a part of; this does not only work for Americans though, how the United States is portrayed artificially has a lot to do on how many other countries view us as well.



Orientalism is a theory which inevitable feed stereotypes. Stereotypes target not only cultures but races, gender, and religion. Edward Said exemplifies his Orientalist approach through instances such as The Persians play and has uncovered the effects of primarily Westernized ideologies regarding diverse cultures. In the video posted, Orientalism is expressed. Because the protagonist is black, his co-workers burden him with stereotypes such as giving him a basketball, a rap CD, a waffle maker and yelling “Happy Kwanza.” It is an example of an exaggerated Western ideology that will always be eminent.



References

Said, Edward. "Orientalism." Ryan, Julie Rivkin and Michael. Literary Theory: An Anthology. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 1998. 873-886.