Final Essay

Karen Molina
Orientalism and Occidentalism
Dr. Metcalf
Spring 2009

The “clash of civilization” between East and West mentioned by many authors, including Edward Said, seems to be a growing barrier amongst the people of these areas. This barrier has not only been around in the present time but developed over many years after the interaction of different people. The labeling and stereotypes developed by people for one another may be suggested as the reason for this “clash”. Also, the feeling of not getting along with “different” people and feeling that one’s way is the right way have not helped bring people to understand one another. These feelings also paved way to a position of supremacy over another and this is shown through out history. Through various forms this clash resonates and seems almost irreversible.
European supremacy is discussed in Edward Said’s book titled Orientalism as dating back to ancient Greece and the time of Xerxes of Persia. Said includes a passage from Aeschylus’s play The Persians, which is the earliest Athenian extant. In this play a chorus section by the Persian army after they were defeated by the Greeks brings out a notion of European supremacy and Asian inferiority. Through the words expressed Asia speaks through and by virtue of the European imagination, which is depicted as victorious over Asia, that hostile “other” world beyond the seas (Said, pg. 56). Plays in the ancient world served as the media services we have today. People who did not travel and did not experience contact with the “other” relied on things such as this to get an idea of what the others are like. In this play, for example, the defeated Asians were portrayed as weak, empty and without hope. It seems to be a region’s mission to make itself seem the higher status group. In classical Greece and Rome geographers, historians, public figures like Caesar, orator, and poets added to the fund of taxonomic lore separating races, regions, nations, and minds from each other; much of that was self-serving and existed to prove that Romans and Greeks were superior to other kinds of people (Said, pg.57).
Feelings of superiority, although Said greatly focused on Greece and Rome, were displayed in other areas of the world. This can be seen on the African continent where a vast civilization enslaved a whole group of people. It is known that in Ancient Egypt there was also a feeling of superiority over others and in this case it was the Jews. Those who were enslaved helped build the magnificent civilization but where shunned away from being equally treated in society. Every early civilization may it be on the African continent, in Mesoamerica (which held the Aztecs and Mayans), or South America (which held the Incans) displayed and took actions that could be proof of the feeling of power compared to others.
An example of the phrase “clash of civilizations” during the 20th century occurred after the development of Israel after the Second World War. This brought great problems as the Palestinians that lived in those land were forced to share it with the newcomers. Tensions have occurred through out the years and continue to this present day as the recently established Israel began to take more than its assigned share. Israel has managed, with the aid of other nations, to develop an organized army which it uses to acquire the segments of the Palestinian territories. Many Palestinians are forced to leave their homes, live in refugee camps in other countries, and many casualties have disrupted families. In the film, The color of olives we can see the restricted life that a Palestinian family lives under. They were able to keep their home but it is under Israeli military land which affects whether or not they can leave anywhere else. The film shows the family’s struggle to keep their lands running smoothly even though the short trip to them from their home has become a longer more restricted journey through Israeli checkpoints.
Another film that shows the terrible life that Palestinians must live under is titled Private. In this film a Palestinian family is shown through its daily struggles when Israeli soldiers take their second floor for military purposes. The whole family is forced to live downstairs and is restricted in through out their home. The most moving scene of this film takes place when the family is forced into a room by the Israeli soldiers and they start firing their arms outside. The father of the family realizes that their younger daughter is not among them. He quickly calls her to come close to the door and calms her down through the opposite side. The little girl spends all night away from her family blocked by the locked door, which is opened once again in the morning. This shows how the soldiers have no pity over the lives of anyone, not even children, that they see as the “other”. Both the Palestinians and Israelis have fought for many decades and until there is a solution it will continue to destroy lives. Both are angry at each other, both see the other as wrong, and both want the other out. This constant battle over land has created what Said calls clash of civilizations between people that live closely together in a single nation.
A more current clash of civilizations occurred after the events of September 11 which developed a barrier between the people of the United States and the Middle East. After the terrorist attacks, the United States told its people that men of Middle Eastern origin had been responsible for such gruesome acts against innocent people. After that day feelings towards all people of the Middle East changed. People became skeptical and to a point perhaps paranoid in the presence of the “other”. The government has a close watch over what people of those countries of origin are doing and make sure that any mysterious actions are investigated. As a form of national security people saw this as best but it took it to greater levels that could be linked to discrimination. After 9/11 people of Middle Eastern descent were discriminated against and stereotyped in all forms. Some people that encountered them keep a watchful eye and report any suspicious actions. Some are falsely accused and sentenced without having any evidence.
A good film that represents this clash between people in the United States is titled American East. This film follows an Egyptian family through the daily struggled while living in L.A. The protagonist named Mustafa looses his son in an airport and begins calling his name, which is Mohammed. This creates chaos and makes him a suspect by the FBI. He is brought it for an interrogation after many Muslim items were found in his car. Once they ask him why he has each thing he is allowed to leave. Days later the FBI takes him in again after doing a background check on everything Mustafa does. It was found that he sends a high amount of money to Egypt which he is forced to explain or it will be taken as helping fund the terrorists. Once he clarifies that it is to buy the land of his father back, he is released and his frozen funds can once again be accessed. This shows the incredible paranoia that exists in the United States and also shows how the United States invades a person’s privacy in order find out everything they do. By doing this, the basis of this country which protects the rights of people has become one that no one follows anymore.
The basis of this clash of civilizations involves not understanding those viewed as the other. For example, the United States through the news and popular media depict the people of the Middle East. This alters the view of the people and further creates a barrier among people. TV culture in the United States has placed people of Middle Eastern descent as the barbaric terrorists who are just looking for a chance to kill innocent people. Things are taken farther in proportion and have developed stereotypes that have make people skeptical and feel “unsafe” around the other. The clash of civilizations discussed are conflicts that may be resolved if an understanding of the other can take place. This can be hard, especially when dealing with the Arab-Israeli conflict, due to the irreversible actions already taken. Both groups have developed a vision of the other as the enemy and this feeling is passed down to future generations. It is a hard issue to resolve since both want the same thing and will not back down from getting it. This issue is a clash of civilizations within a single nation among people who view themselves as so different that it is hard to coexist. Edward Said is correct when he says that there is a barrier between East and West. The clash, with evidence of the news and other popular media, does resonate. But it is also seen that clashes can be within a single area or miles apart. This is especially seen between the U.S. and the Middle East. The United States has its own vision of the East and the people of the East also have a view of the U.S. as a dominating tyrant nation. Stereotypes are everywhere and amongst all people but the clash of civilization took it to the next level. Stereotypes have become one that could affect a person’s life significantly and cause great divisions among people.