Orientalism In American Cinema

7 Pages 1870 Words

according to Dallmayar, the last professional field of all: American cinema. No longer is the exploration of cross-culture left to philologians, historians and anthropologists. In America, the tasks of understanding and properly portraying culture has been given a unique dual standard. Without a doubt, we still have our historians and philosophers who uncover the truths about East Asian culture. However, America also charges its film makers to take cultures from around the globe and present them in a way that is entertaining. To this end, film makers mold and craft their target culture in ways to may totally undermine the actual ideals and beliefs of that culture, all in an effort to sell tickets. But, before we can show orientalism in American cinema. It is best to define exactly what is meant by “Orientalism” itself.

Dallmayr uses a quote by noted author Edward Said. According to Said, Orientalism is “coming to terms with the Orient” based on the its “special place in European Western experience”. Said goes on further, expanding on this definition, saying that Orientalism is “a Western style for dominating, restructuring and having authority over The Orient”.[Dallmayar, p. xvi] With regards to film, this is not to suggest that film makers create movie to dominate, restructure or control any country in the far ...