Orientalism and Its Impact
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Edward Said insists that the Orient is not merely imaginative because it is deeply entwined with Europe's material and cultural foundations. The Orient, in his view, is not just a fantasy or a product of imagination; it is a real geographical and cultural entity that shaped European colonial expansion, provided the origin of its richest colonies, and served as a foil for the West’s self-definition. Said draws from Vico’s idea that we can only know what we create, framing both the Orient and Occident as constructs born out of human imagination and power structures. The "Orient" helped define the "Occident" by offering a contrasting identity: the mystical, exotic, and passive East against the rational, progressive, and active West. This dynamic was never neutral; it was underpinned by European domination and hegemony.
While all cultures interpret reality, the problem with Orientalists’ interpretations lies in their power dynamics. Orientalism is not a mere cultural lens but a system of knowledge characterized by authority used to dominate and represent the East. It created a rigid framework that defined the Orient as an Other to the West—mysterious, regressive, and subordinate. This essentialism denied the Orient agency, leaving its narratives and histories shaped by Western perspectives and justifying colonialism.
Stereotypes described by Vivek Bald, such as the "Hindoo" peddler or the mystical Indian, reflect these Orientalist tropes. Black and brown individuals often appropriated these images to navigate racial and social barriers. African Americans, by adopting "Oriental" markers, could momentarily escape the rigid racial hierarchies of the Jim Crow era. They exploited the Western association of the East with wisdom and magic to gain access to spaces and opportunities otherwise denied to them. This phenomenon demonstrates how Orientalism has a very real impact on the lived experiences of individuals and communities, even those far removed from the geographical boundaries of the Orient itself. Orientalism, then, as a constructed system of knowledge, is not only a tool of domination but also a space that can be leveraged by those on the margins.