Sunaina Maria and Edward Said reading

In both readings by Sunaina Maria and Edward Said, the main word of interest was orientalism. By the nature of society, people are labeled and used as a form of identity whether imposed or self-created. Personally, I feel that the word orientalism falls more under Said’s suggestion of an inferior and underdeveloped people. For the most part, the term orientalism is a imposed idea and not created by those that are labeled by it. However, this is still a common term and people accept the label, willingly or not. This is similar to a form of hegemony where the people choose to abide by this label that is imposed on them. Something interesting to note is that statement in Sais’s reading, “Oriential mentality have derived not from uniformed lower middle-class Occidental red-necks but from Orientalists’ dogmas.” He continues stating, “decreeing the Oriental to be a discrete specimen of something resembling (but never attaining the status of) a normal human being.” This statement reveals the oppressiveness of the western social power. By identifying the people through a cultural title, society limits the views and in turn the potential of those with the said title. On the other hand, the people can use this as a form of unifying identity. In Maira’s article, the culture of the “indo-chic” spreads through the worlds interest in their fashion and music. There is a form of capitalism that is used through the cultural identity formed by the people. To a degree, it even challenges the views of Said through he social influence the culture produces.