Edward Said-Orientalism

August Heinrich

Orientalism

It’s startling how ubiquitous in American culture we find evidence of orientalism and incorrect images of people from the Middle East. I was unsettled to see how these images are used in popular culture in moves geared towards very young children such as in the movie Alladin. It creates a detachment from their side of the world and our own, and there is little motive for this practice to stop considering the economic and political ramifications. As Edward Said states, the United States benefits from the ignorant generalizations of Middle Eastern culture because at the current status quo, there is less resistance of the government’s actions that are typically financially driven. On top of that, The Middle Eastern dictatorships receive funding from the United States that is crucial for everyday operations. These dictators hesitate to raise the question of orientalism in America to the United States because they are concerned they could lose financial assistance.

I find it interesting and disconcerting how frequently the Middle East was associated with terrorist attacks, some of which the culprit was entirely American; the Oklahoma bombings, for example. It’s easy for the media and government to blame a land distant and not often traveled by United States citizens for attacks and political discourse, but it distracts the country from domestic issues and inequality within our own society. The demonization of Middle Eastern people is a diversion from real issues that can and should be addressed here in the states, and makes for a convenient enemy for the general United States population to fear and blame without any concrete experience with these people or in the land they come from.

I hope to see more of how orientalism has shaped political progress, and lack thereof, in the United States. I feel our country would progress far more quickly if we focused on the right issues. Furthermore, these issues must be addressed in realistic, accurate context. When Middle Eastern people are poorly represented by stereotype or presuppositions, it won’t be possible to treat these issues in a mature, professional manner.