Orientalism

Jessica Langsdon

Professor Moscowitz

CC 101: Identity and Community

17 October 2006

Orientalism

The fascination with outside cultures in today’s modern American society can be seen as a positive achievement in the eyes of social activists, but this fascination of the exoticness of these foreign places or Orientalism does little for the stereotypes associated with the different ethnic groups of the world. American’s attention span towards foreign countries, particularly those considered as third world countries, rise and fall with the latest headline news. Although the media has the greatest influence to inform the public of genocidal, starvation, or health epidemic situations; they quickly move from headline to headline without truly delving deep into possibly why or how the situation occurred or the possible harmful side affects the negative news coverage has on Americans and their perception of foreign countries. The ability of the media to overshadow foreign countries with pessimistic news coverage has caused the meaning of Orientalism to change from the whimsical appeal of the exotic nations of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East to a negative definition filled with prejudices and stereotypes.

Orientalism