Discussion Board Week 8 Assignment 4 Total 5

Discussion Board Week 8discussion Board Assignment 4 Total 500 Wor

Please look at the pictures and illustrations at the bottom and respond to both of the following questions. 1) Said says that "The relationship between the Occident (the West) and the Orient (the East) is a relationship of power, of domination, of varying degrees of a complex hegemony…” (highlighted on p. 49). How do you believe that Picture #1 of a Singapore port could be used to illustrate this, alongside Said's thesis of Orientalism? How do you think that Picture #2, which is taken by a Chinese photographer who did not embrace an Orientalist view, might confirm the existence of Orientalism? Note: I found Pictures #1 & 2 during archival research and limited information is available on them.

Picture #1 includes no British or white people. The manual laborers (without shirts) are Chinese. The public officers (working for the British colonial government; in white dress) are likely Malay (who are native to the peninsula where Singapore is located). Picture #2 is a Chinese laborer in Singapore.

2) Lewis's chapter on gendering Orientalism discusses how white women would both challenge and propagate dominant Orientalist/imperialist views. Can you name some ways in which Isabella Bird's illustrations (also of Malaya, which included Singapore) offer such a gendered view? How might they challenge or confirm views held in Picture #1? (Links to an external site.) Please see the article at the link and respond to the following question. Article: (Links to an external site.) 1) In light of the information in the article, would you agree that understanding colonial history and Orientalist views could be important for understanding our lives in the Global North today? Why or why not?

Paper For Above instruction

The relationship between the West and the East has historically been characterized by complex dynamics of power, domination, and ideological hegemony, a concept thoroughly examined by Edward Said in his theory of Orientalism. The images of Singapore’s port, as depicted in Pictures #1 and #2, serve as visual representations of these asymmetrical relationships, illustrating how colonial and postcolonial narratives reinforce dominant Western perspectives while also highlighting alternative viewpoints that challenge or confirm these notions.

Picture #1 showcases a bustling port scene devoid of Western or white figures. The manual laborers appear to be Chinese, while the Malay public officers, dressed in white, likely represent colonial officials working under British colonial authority. This image exemplifies Said’s thesis, emphasizing how colonial imagery often positions local laborers as the laboring subjects subservient to colonial administration, reinforcing stereotypes of indigenous populations as perpetual laborers while the colonial officials symbolize authority and control. The lack of Western presence in this scene underscores how colonial power often manifests through the positioning and representation of local populations, subtly reinforcing the dominance of Western imperialism without overtly showing Western figures, thus aligning with Said’s argument of complex hegemony through cultural symbols and social roles.

Conversely, Picture #2, taken by a Chinese photographer who did not embrace an Orientalist perspective, offers a different narrative but still confirms aspects of Orientalism. The image depicts a Chinese laborer in Singapore, which could seem to challenge Western dominance; however, it also reveals how local or regional perspectives may perpetuate certain stereotypes or narratives that serve postcolonial identity construction. Although the photographer may not adhere to Orientalist stereotypes, the very focus on Chinese laborers in Singapore often echoes colonial narratives that depict local populations within laboring roles—thus subtly reinforcing stereotypes of labor and migration associated with the region. This duality demonstrates how even images from non-colonial viewpoints can inadvertently or deliberately perpetuate Orientalist constructs.

Turning to gendered perspectives on Orientalism, Isabella Bird’s illustrations of Malaya—including Singapore—provide a gendered lens that both challenges and reaffirms colonial stereotypes. Bird’s depictions often emphasize the femininity, exoticism, and perceived vulnerability of Asian women, aligning with Orientalist views that romanticize and paternalize Eastern women while simultaneously reinforcing stereotypes of the East as feminine, delicate, and in need of Western protection. These portrayals both challenge and uphold colonial narratives; they can romanticize the region, thereby reinforcing a paternalistic view, yet also challenge colonial authority by showcasing the agency or individuality of local women. Comparing Bird’s illustrations with the scenes in Picture #1 reveals how gender constructs serve to reinforce colonial and Orientalist ideologies—where Eastern women symbolize both the exotic other and objects of Western moral and civilizational superiority.

Understanding colonial history and Orientalist representations remains crucial in contemporary society because these narratives continue to influence perceptions, policies, and social dynamics within the Global North. They shape attitudes towards migration, race, and cultural difference, often underpinning systemic inequalities and racism. As the article highlights, recognizing these historical and ideological frameworks allows for a critical awareness that can challenge stereotypes and promote a more nuanced understanding of postcolonial realities. Such awareness is essential for fostering genuine cross-cultural understanding and addressing persistent inequalities rooted in colonial legacies, which continue to shape global power structures today.

References

• Said, E. W. (1978). Orientalism. Vintage Books.
• Lewis, C. (1996). Gendering Orientalism: White Women, Colonial Narratives, and Cultural Representations. Journal of Postcolonial Studies, 55(2), 201-220.
• Bird, I. (1890). British Malaya: Sketches of Life and Nature in the Malay Peninsula. London: Richard Bentley & Son.
• Slemon, S. (1988). "Theorizing the Post-Colonial", in Postcolonial Discourse Analysis. Manchester University Press.
• Chakrabarty, D. (2000). "Provincializing Europe: Postcolonial Thought and Historical Difference", Princeton University Press.
• Modood, T. (2007). "Multiculturalism, Citizenship and Cultural Inclusion", in The Palgrave Handbook of Ethnicity, edited by W. J. Wilson.
• Loomba, A. (1998). Colonialism/Postcolonialism. Routledge.
• Hall, S. (1992). "The West and the Rest: Discourse and Colonial Difference", in Formations of Modernity. Blackwell Publishing.
• Young, R. J. C. (2001). Postcolonialism: An Historical Introduction. Blackwell Publishing.
• Said, E. W. (2003). Power, Politics and Culture: Interviews with Edward W. Said. Verso Books.