Focus for today What is the Orient Introduction Discourses about the Orient A real Orient Challenges to Orientalism Neo-Orientalism Orientalism and the media Learning outcome 2: critically apply theoretical considerations to generic popular texts Television programmes we will draw upon include It Goodness Gracious Me, and Death in Paradise, Bruce Parry. Barbara Mitra TV Times 1
What is the Orient Map exercise European representation of the Orient Deepest and most recurring image of the other Integral to Europe Lives through academic doctrines, writings, art, media including television programmes Barbara Mitra TV Times 2
Discourses Orientalism dominant, authority over the Orient Orientalism as a discourse in many different areas Political power Intellectual Power Power Moral Power Cultural Power Hence, impossible not to be influenced by such discourses (clip of It Ain t Half Hot Mum) and Citizen Khan Barbara Mitra TV Times 3
Real Orient Not merely existing Orient and Occident are man made Notion of Orient historically But there is a reality Barbara Mitra TV Times 4
Challenge to Orientalism Occident as counter western discourse Binary approach Occident/Orient Different definitions The stereotyped and negative views of the western world Positive and negative representations of the west E.g. Japanese advertising Still reinforce East/West distinction Clip of Goodness Gracious Me Barbara Mitra TV Times 5
Neo-Orientalism Modern technology We are in a post-orientalist era The dualisms still remain in a globalised framework Click on Image Barbara Mitra TV Times 6
Orientalism and the Media Said Films and television Said s ideas Can relate to many others Orientalist ideas on television programmes More complex? Bruce Parry Some Orientalist ideas perhaps shown in television programmes? exotic mystical To be feared Shown as groups Simpler way of life Different villain foolish Strange Uncivilised Barbara Mitra TV Times 7
Anime animation Shinto Soundtracks Traditional e.g. shamisen and contemporary instruments (electric guitars) Characters highlight both traditional and contemporary clothing Fighting and power ninjutsu (magical ninja techniques), genjutsu (illusions), taijutsu (physical fighting techniques) Complexities Mixture of Japanese, European and American influences Characters as universally human rather than specific group. Japan s global cultural influence Contemporary anime - largest provider or animation worldwide E.g. Mushishi and One Week Friends Barbara Mitra TV Times 8
Summary of Key ideas Notion of the Orient as a discourse with a particular history Involving a power relationship Permeates how the other will be portrayed and represented on television The Occident/Orient may offer resistance to these ideas And there are re-interpretations (neo-orientalism) The media reinforce /challenge a binary divide (Occident/Orient) Assignment 1 choice: an analysis of programmes in relation to orientalism Barbara Mitra TV Times 9
References Benshoff, H. and Griffin, S. (2004) America on Film. Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality at the Movies. Oxford, Blackwell. Bernstein, M. & Studlar, G. (1997) Visions of the East. Orientalism in Film. London, I B Tauris. Caplan, P. (2005) In search of the exotic. A discussion of the BBC2 series Tribe, Anthropology Today. Vol. 21(2) pp.3-7. Garrison, J. A. (2013) Orientalism and Western Fans: A Look at Fandom Surrounding Masashi Kishimoto s Naruto. Master of Arts Thesis, North Carolina, Appalachian State University. Said, E. (2002) Orientalism in (eds.) Aschcroft, B., Griffiths, G. & Tiffin, H. The Post-Colonial Studies Reader. London, Routledge Samiei, M. (2010) Neo-Orientalism? The relationship between the West and Islam in our globalised world. Third World Quarterly. Vol. 31(7), pp.1145-1160. See the resource list with digitised chapter on Said. Barbara Mitra TV Times 10