I wake up again wondering about my dissertation: The transition of Orientalism in Southeast Asian films produced by Western directors.
Mainly I do want to know if Orientalism still exist and despite of many inter-racial marriage, cooperation and the economic interest now shifting to China an example of the Orient, there are still strands of Orientalism. Or Orientalism has been weaved in between Western hipocrysies in the name of democracy, including the super power Orient in their scheme or whatever they are doing right now to strengthen their position as world dominant power? Only God knows. Everything seems to be sceptic and every move seems to be doubtful especially after hearing about 'The Clash of Civilisations' theory by Huntington in Youtube.
The challenge will be in me, changing my mindset and looking at every strands logically and rationally as signs of Orientalism. This self who had been orientated by my beloved country that the Malays are backward, Malays are never good enough in keeping up with progress, the Malays tainted race with social problems like teen pregancy, drugs, divorce...identities that only the middle class or lower Malays know. The elite Malays though some genuinely aware of these, others take it as it is not their issue any more once they leave the economic social status. So orientalism to me is not only about the East and the West but includes too cultural, economic and social status, religion, racial superiority within the West community as well as the East community. Another point to highlight is even though the holy union between two races in marriage, it does not only focus between the east and the west, I believe the choice of partner too plays a part in strengthening the concept of Orientalism or even Nationalism but it is undeniable too that certain matrimony arise from equality or the thing called love. I remembered a wonderful friend who married out of the Eastern race because his husband, the West, not only portrays good humble character but in fact accept her for who and what she is. Sadly in my own race, marrying a girl who is born out of wedlock is a taboo, a corruption of good bloodline. A good, educated Malay family rejected her just because of that and is that liberation of the mind in that family? Mind me, my friend is an intelligent young lady. After her marriage, the sight of her husband enthusiasm in absorbing the culture miraculously rooted her and in this case, their marriage is Said's vision of erasing the Occident and the Orient. Unlike many marriages that I have observed 'superficially', the husbands do not make any or little attempt to mingle or even absorb the wife's culture sincerely. What is even sad, the wives usually are treated like slaves to please the husband in the name of 'Malay' culture and 'Islam' teaching. Orientalism? To some of you, you will agree with me that colonialism of the mind is worst that colonialism of a country.
How do I separate myself from thinking colonially, thinking like an orientalist when I am a product of successfull colonialism and orientalism? When I believe that there needs to be a superior status or perhaps I should or must erase the quality of superior in a leader? A good leader leads justly without feeling that he or she is superior in nature just like how a king is considered a superior and heavenly descendant. In all, I have to disorient myself to reach the destination. Which brings to the question if the transition of Orientalism in an influential media a positive or negatine one? I sincerely need a good lecturer to guide me in my understanding.
