The West's Quest For Superiority

In Edward Said's article "Orientalism", Said defines Orientalism is three ways. He states that anyone who studies the Orient is doing what he would call Orientalism. He also defines Orientalism as the distinction between the Orient and the Occident (East vs. West). Finally, Said defines Orientalism as the way that the West derives power from domination of the East's culture. The West created an image of the East as a mysterious and scary place that is unsophisticated in comparison to the West. Ultimately, it is the way that the West preys on the East's culture in an attempt to gain power and superiority over the East.

Orientalism continues to be a integral part of the West's mindset today. Specifically in America, we are still taught to fear the East as it is wildly unpredictable. For example, we are taught to fear the East because it is where the people who want to destroy America because of our superior culture. This creates the idea that the East is hostile to America because of our superiority. It is the way that America is still able to establish dominance over the East.