Critical reflection

Reflection of Said’s Notion

In Edward Said’s Interview(2012) “Edward Said on Orientalism“, Said explains what influenced him to write the book, the context and his thesis on understanding Orientalism. According to Said, “Orientalism  is a framework used to understand the unfamiliar and the strange.” His book revolutionized the study of the Middle East as well as contested the stereotyping of “the Orient” as "violent, irrational and terrorist people" by the West, specially the American people. Said argues that there is disparity between what actually “the Orient” is and what is been portrayed in the media.Said’s trilogy of books have been fundamental in providing a new perspective on the subject. His notion of Orientalism couldnot have been more relevant in the post  9/11 era.

After the 9/11 event, the perception of Muslim or Middle Eastern people in the West has changed significantly. Especially news, Hollywood movies and  the media paints a villainous picture of these communities.Just consuming the one sided stories of  these people in the  news and how they are represented demonize Muslims and cause consequent racialization and othering of their communities. Post 9/11, Muslims witnessed discrimination, stigmatization of their religion and violent confrontation (Nagra, 2011).

It is frequently observed that Muslim people are racialized and othered through preconceived notions about their religion and that their ulterior motive is to kill Americans. Middle Eastern Muslims are stereotyped as evil, demonic figures of terror. Such racialization influences how people see and treat their communities.On the receiving end, Muslims in the West are direct targets not only in the airports and borders but also in their residences and workplaces. The Orients are living with reduced religious freedom, compromised security and constant discrimination (Nagra, 2011).

Muslims are increasingly viewed as potential threats, hence are vicimized in public spaces, and treated as second class citizens. Post 9/11, Muslim or Middle Eastern men have been represented in the Western World as violent and most likely to be involved in acts of terrorism.In lieu of the misconception, Muslim population work hard to redefine themselves as the loyal citizens and peace loving people contrary to their dominant negative identity.

Thus Said’s concept of orientalism has provided a good understanding of why such stereotypes are happening in the post 9/11 era.

 

 

 

 

Source:

Nagra, B., 2011. Unequal Citizenship: Being Muslim and Canadian in the Post 9/11 Era [PhD Thesis], University of Toronto.Retrieved June 5, 2020 from https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/29823/1/Nagra_Baljit_201106_PhD_thesis.pdf