East is East and West is Best

In this excerpt from his book Orientalism, Edward Said explains the theory of Orientalism. Prior to reading the actual passage, I was anticipating that Said would promote the theory of Orientalism; however, Said merely explained the theory, which was in fact constructed by eighteenth and nineteenth century European colonizers. Said goes so far as to describe Orientalism as a "corporate institution" (3). Orientalism was a way of dealing with and establishing authority over the East. Although Orientalism is a theory, Said stresses that it is not only a theory, but there is in fact a reality. The theory has had a significant effect on the geographic area the theory explains. Essentially Orientalism creates a binary between the East and West, effectively asserting that East is East and West is Best.

Through this assertion, the West positions itself as superior to the East. Said's analysis of the theory of Orientalism is logical and sensible. He maintains an impressive impartial and calm tone throughout his essay. As the West strove to gain control of the East, the emergence of the theory of Orientalism is understandable. In the quest the gain and maintain power, it is easiest to justify this power by claiming to be better than the people losing power. This theory still manifests in "pop culture" today, such as the propagation of American films like the Sound of Music in God of Small Things.