Unmasking Orientalism: Stereotypes in Education and Media in 20th Century America and Europe

Abstract

This article examines the influence of Orientalism in both education and media during the 20th century in the United States and other European countries. The analysis highlights the significance of Orientalism and how it contributed to the stereotypes in education and the media. This research paper draws upon a diverse range of sources, including American textbooks, American and European films, and newspapers in the United States and across Europe in the 20th century. While the article briefly touches on Orientalism in education and media generally, its primary focus lies in dissecting Orientalist themes within American and European textbooks, films, and newspapers from this era. The examination of textbooks reveals how both Americans and Europeans portrayed Asians through a lens tinted by stereotypes and occasional hostilities. Likewise, in the realm of films and newspapers, an abundance of questionable Orientalist elements often misled readers and viewers, fostering a distorted understanding of Oriental cultures. These works, laden with biases, readily engendered stereotypes of Asians among European audiences. By shedding light on these dynamics, this research paper seeks to catalyze a positive transformation in American and European education and media, while also offering a challenge to the enduring presence of Orientalism.