Orientalism and the Media

In the excerpt from Edward Said’s Orientalism, he takes us back deep into history to determine the roots of social problems that are still present in today’s society. The “Occidents,” or, the Westerners, viewed the “Orients,” or, the Easterners, as inferiors. The Westerners described their counterparts as being so uncivilized that they needed their “help” to become a civilized society. However, this rationale was merely an excuse for invading these people’s homelands and forcing their power upon them. These culture clashes created strong tensions between the two peoples: tensions that still exist today, hundreds and even thousands of years after the imperial era. “Orientalism” is the term created to describe the study of the dynamics between the two different cultures.

It’s impossible to deny that the societal expectations derived from this imperial time continue to exist today. In Jack K.’s post, he brushed on the topic of the media playing a large role in preserving and even reinforcing these stereotypes created so very long ago. I think that this connection is important to note. If we look back on history, the use of propaganda in the early 20th Century really fueled the public’s forming of opinions about the people of the East. The U.S. was able to use propaganda, for example to paint a picture for the public of the people of the Phillippenes as being uncivilized, backwards, and in need of foreign “aid.” During the Roosevelt Administration, they invaded this country because of the apparent need for foreign aid.

Recently, though, Movies, T.V., music, and even social media outlets have further reinforced the stereotypes of the “orients.” A person from the Middle East, for example, is often portrayed as being angry, quick-tempered, and having a “dark side.” Also, the new ABC comedy Fresh off the Boat recently received lots of criticism for making its Asian characters seem clueless, overly traditional, and rude, which many thought were stereotypes too directly linked to Asian people. Obviously, these stereotypes haven’t gone away, and the great force of the media is making them even stronger.