East Versus West: Challenging the Binary and Stereotypes

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In many types of English literature as well as society itself, the idea of us versus them, or you are with me, and against them, come into play. This idea of there being a lack of a grey area creates this black and white dichotomous separations that pit people or groups against each other. However, the false dichotomous, or binaries come with consequences and negative stereotypes in areas where they are applied liberally and incorrectly. In addition, when there is a gray area, the people in the middle ground often ignored or marginalized by the extremes. This binary of east versus west has only increased in the years since the World Trade Center attacks in New York City on September 11, 2001. However, while many look at the East and West as two mutually exclusive stories, both the East and West share an overlap in several major areas, including art, religion, religious and political freedom, and history.
Art has had a major influence in both Islamic, representing the East, and non-Islamic Christians, representing the West. In the book, My Name Is Red, author and famous Turkish novelist Orhan Pamukr, dissects the heart of 16th century Turkey as is straddles the edges of both Europe and Asia. Through his storytelling, Pamuk uses unusual perspectives to demonstrate the struggle against what some on the Turkish court considered a negative influence of the west creating the idea of the binary. While writing from unique outlooks, Pamuk also metaphorically uses red the color of love, describing Islam as the love between the Prophet Muhammad and Allah. This idea of a binary is exemplified between members of the Sultan’s inner circle or advisors and artists. In this tale of struggle, the book focuses on the court of Sultan Murat III, who r...

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...as of art, religion, and a false mutually exclusive history. This concept leads to divisions, and misunderstanding between regions and cultures. This idea that the West and East are mutually exclusive needs to be challenged continuously by scholars, leaders of faith, and the everyday historian.

Works Cited

Curtis, Edward E.. Muslims in America: a short history. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print.

Ernest, William. "The Limits of Universalism in Islamic Thought: the Case of Indian Religions." The Muslim World 101 (2011): n. pag. N/A. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.

Gettleman, Marvin E.. The Middle East and Islamic world reader. Rev. and expanded ed. New York, NY: Grove Press, 2012. Print.

Pamuk, Orhan. My name is Red. New York: Vintage International, 2001. Print.

Safi, Omid. Memories of Muhammad: why the prophet matters. New York, NY: HarperOne, 20102009. Print.

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