We will be reading about Post-Colonial aesthetics for this section of class. Post-Colonial ideas concern themselves with examining and overcoming Western European and North American characterizations of Middle Eastern and Asian persons. These characterizations are very common but also come with a host of problems. For our project, we will be investigating what these characterizations are and how certain thinkers, namely Edward Said, attempt to overcome the negative aspects of what he calls "Orientalism."
1. Read this Introduction to Colonialism. It is helpful for seeing what Said and others are arguing against.
2. Watch this short intro to Said's concept of Orientalism.
3. Read the first 2 sections of Said's Orientalism.
4. Watch this short video about Disney and Orientalism and then write a one page essay describing how Disney movies (Aladdin, Pocahontas, Mulan in particular) play into Orientalist tropes.
1. Read this Introduction to Colonialism. It is helpful for seeing what Said and others are arguing against.
2. Watch this short intro to Said's concept of Orientalism.
3. Read the first 2 sections of Said's Orientalism.
4. Watch this short video about Disney and Orientalism and then write a one page essay describing how Disney movies (Aladdin, Pocahontas, Mulan in particular) play into Orientalist tropes.