Topics in cultural studies - Research Paper Example

Western civilization was often founded on the ideal of the existence of some form of hierarchy that determined the manner in which cultures related on the score of power. Stronger cultures have a tendency of influencing weaker cultures in the multiple discourses that bring both cultures into contact with each other. On this score, it is often assumed that cultural expression of one culture will necessarily determine the nature and extent to which such a culture expresses its own values with other cultures.

Western cultures adopted a central perspective in which they assumed that all other cultures were essentially inferior. The discourse of culture was considered in terms of the hierarchy that existed between western cultures and the other cultures (Hause & Maltby, 2004). The manifestation of the struggle often entailed an active engagement with the hierarchical determination of the relative strength and weaknesses between the cultures. As a result, only the cultures that had their internal structures managed to overcome the stifling influences of western cultures.

The power of cultural expression worked in a manner that brought together the various discourses that embraced western cultures and non-western cultures. . Western civilization adopted philosophies that determined perspectives on other foreign influences. It might be argued that some of the discourses that defined the world outside the boundaries of western civilization essentially determined the manner in which these civilizations engaged with other forms of civilization. The discourses of orientalism, racism, and colonialism were necessarily conditioned by cultural perceptions of the presumed superiority of western civilization to other forms of civilization (Sherman, 2006).

For instance, the west considered the East within the discourse of orientalism. There was a sense in which the East was considered as an alien culture and necessarily inferior to western culture. Such perceptions also underpinned the desire to conquer and subdue any other cultures that were perceived as inferior. The deliberate misrepresentation of cultural facts was meant to make the other cultures subordinate to western civilization. Such cultural perceptions justified the need to conquer foreign lands and to subdue other races that were defined by the relative weaknesses of cultural civilizations.

Matters of cultural superiority might be considered in terms of the manner in which they engaged with processes that determine the relative strength between cultures. Essentially, other cultures were considered as inferior and deserving to be conquered and subdued. It might be necessary to consider the element of civilization within the broad perspective of cultural relationships. Assumptions of strength within the framework of cultural expression were considered as the pivotal point, which determined the kind of relationship between the west and