The Question of Orientalism: the Demonization and Islam - Essay Example

According to Edward Said (Media Education transcript pg.4, www.mediaed.org), “you didn’t get what you could call realistic representations of the Orient, either in literature or in painting or in music or any of the arts”. The repertory of orientalism basically shows that no matter what people say about the orient, it is all the opinion of the beholder’s eye. It shows some peoples ignorance on certain subjects, the stereotypes they come up with, he says again,(Media Education transcript pg.4, www.mediaed.org) “the theory that the Orientals are all the same no matter where you find them, whether it’s in India, or Syria, or in Egypt, it’s basically the same assets”. It is the assumption that some places that are perceived to be magical are also timeless and unevolving. Orientalism and Empire Napoleon’s conquest of Egypt in 1798 came about in a different way which basically shows a different way in which a conquest can be made. One can invade a country in search of treasure and petroleum, but in this case, Egypt was invaded and studied for the purpose of what can France to for Egypt. American Orientalism Edward Said shows the difference between Europe and America. He shows how Europe had its colonies in India, Algeria and Indochina for non political reasons which gave both parties a long standing relationship. America on the other hand is interested in countries for political reasons. Edward Said’s view of America’s Orientalism in the east is “that the American Orientalism is very politicized by the presence of Israel for which America is the main ally.” (Media Education transcript pg.6, www.mediaed.org) [CNN News: Vice President Al Gore] President Clinton and I are proud, as are all Americans that the United States was the first nation to recognize the State of Israel, eleven minutes after you proclaimed your independence. (Media Education transcript pg.6, www.mediaed.org) Orientalism today – the demonization of Islam in the News and Popular Culture This breaks down the stereotypes and the ideas that pop into non oriental people when the Orient is talked about. Ideas such as extremists, fanatics, and kamikaze are all words and images that come to mind when the Middle East is talked about. “So the impression you got of Islam was that it was a frightening mysterious, above all threatening, as if the main business of Muslims was to threaten and try to kill Americans”, says Edward Said (Media Education transcript pg.7-8, www.mediaed.org)in the video. Orientalism in action: Oklahoma City Bombing Edward Said was in Canada during the Oklahoma city bombing in April 1995, and just after it happened he was called off the hook by journalists simply because being from the Middle East, he may have had an inside insight into the bombing and that he might be able to understand and hence explain what had been done. This shows how people’s ignorance gets out of control in times of crisis. Orientalism and the Palestinian question This section talks of co-existence between religions, race, traditions and beliefs. It shows how to understand one another and therefore expects understanding in order for us to all live peacefully and amicably with each other. The subsequent pages will focus more on Orientalism today – the demonization and Islam in the news and popular culture and on the Oklahoma City bombing. From the time the very first bomb emerged from the Middle East, the world of Islam was tainted black with the notion that everyone from there must be a terrorist, an extremist and a suicide bomber. Books against Islam have been written in the hundreds, all showing the negative side of Islam. Walt Disney tried showing the positive side of Islam and the Middle East in his version of Aladdin, the animated movie, but even there, in the opening song, as was transcribed in the Edward Said video transcript says “I come from a land, from a faraway place where a caravan camels roam, where it’s flat and immense and the heat is intense, it’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home…” (Media Education transcript pg.8, www.mediaed.org) Songs have been written portraying Osama Bin Laden dancing foolishly at the end after the lyrics have done nothing but insult. Movies like My Name is Khan, based on the September 2011 bombings of the twin tower, that try to show how Americans behave towards Muslims that have lived with them as friends, colleagues, are suddenly shunned, insulted and ostracized no matter whether they were not involved in slightest or that they do not even speak any of the Middle eastern languages. In the past, movies done by producers such as Jon Hall, Maria Montez and Sabu, would the viewer believe that the Middle East was a magical place filled with gold, enchanting people, genies, and where basically your every fantasy would come true. In today’s media, Muslims are basically two things: terrorists and fanatics. Every time a movie or an article is shown about Islam or the Middle East, it is accompanied by bloodshed and war. A place and people that you would only find in a place second to hell. The orient has basically become the butt of every joke, it takes the blame for every bombing whether it is Islam related or not, the words on every persons mouth are either it must be Al Shabaab or Al Qaeda (two equally powerful Muslim terrorist groups), in the public’s eye, no good could ever come from the Middle East. On the Oklahoma City Bomb on the other hand, the following are reportings taken from the video transcript of Edward said: [CBS News]The attack on Oklahoma City appears to have a familiar mark.(Media Education transcript pg. 11, www.mediaed.org) [CBS News Interview: Steve Emerson, Author]This was done with the intent to inflict as many casualties as possible. That is a Middle Eastern Trait. (Media Education transcript pg.11, www.mediaed.org) This proves that in no way can the Middle East ever redeem itself. Even in some African countries where the ruler is Muslim, the world takes pity and does not help in any way for fear of any repercussions. The simplicity of the media that can call renowned Muslim or Middle eastern authors that are residing in the United States to ask whether they have any ideas or inside information about a bombing, as it happened to Edward Said after the Oklahoma City bombing is an utterly uneducated move on the part of the media, and unfortunately, this reflects on the way of thinking of the American people in general. The response got from the media on the Oklahoma City bombing, with the immediate assumption that it had something to do with the Middle East makes one wonder: what has America done that if anything happened the first suspect is the Middle East? What makes America so afraid? That is not to say that the Middle East is one hundred percent innocent, she has shown her colors quite a number of times in retaliation and even in attack; but it also does not mean that whatever happens in America is caused by the Middle East. In conclusion, the video, which depicts a slightly biased opinion, actually opens one’s eyes to what is really happening in America. Its strengths include: 1. A Muslim (Edward Said) explaining the role of orientalism throughout the years and why it is important. 2. Makes it simple to understand the perennial conflict between the United States and the Middle East. 3. Shows the level of idiocy and simplicity between both cultures. Edward said talks about many important details, on one point he stressed and that is all people need to learn to co-exist and co-relate with feelings of hate and disgust towards the other person. No one race is superior to the other and no one race is inferior to the other. The video’s weaknesses include the following: 1. Edward Said makes it look as if the Middle East is constantly being oppressed and attacked for things they have no hand in. 2. The theory would hold if behind every non Middle Eastern bombing there was not always an Iraqi, Israeli or Saudi Arabian man who basically will always convince any authority that the brain behind the attach was Middle Eastern. 3. Lastly, Said only talked about what the world sees of the orient in the negative and did not try to show the positive aspects of the orient in the video. For one who seems to be advocating for a people, there was no positive talk about them, it was all as mentioned before, the apparent oppression of the orient from western countries. After all has been said though, I would recommend the video to other viewers. It gives insight to a different point of view, not the same monotonous drone of how the orient is hell on earth and how the inhabitants should all be swiped from the face of the earth. Edward Said gives an opinion from a third perspective which is both refreshing and allows you to really think about what has been happening all over the world over the years. Works Cited Media Education Foundation, (2005) Read More