Free Custom «Orientalism and Saving US State Identity after 9/11» Essay Paper

Meghana’s ‘Orientalism and Saving US State Identity after 9/11’ brings into focus the relevance of ‘orientalism’ as a tool to redeem the image of the US after occurrence of 9/11 attacks. Nayak claims that the US is engaging in gender and racial violence as a means of renewing its lost identity. She also claims that the US has made their subjects appear backward through the use of infantilization, demonization, dehumanization, and sexual commodification. Moreover, she claims that these elements have been used to justify the essence of war.

Meghana supports her claims by inferring from Edward Said’s concept of oreintalism, who defines it as the act of creating a superior moral identity of the US, while characterizing the eastern perspectives as backward. She also infers from the concept of hypermasculinity, which refers to US’s endorsement of rigid gender roles, vengeful military reactions and obsession with power. This is evident during US’s commoditization of Burkhaed Afghan women as an excuse to unleash military violence upon the Afghan. Meghana views the US actions as well calculated moves aimed at restoring image and power amid criticisms; hence, identifies the need for the establishment of a response mechanism to address gender and racial violence.