Reinventing Stereotypes: An Exploration of Digital Orientalism in Western Media Representation of the Middle East.

Reinventing Stereotypes: An Exploration of Digital Orientalism in Western Media Representation of the Middle East.

Authors

  • Inayat UR Rehman M.Phil. Scholar Department of English, Qurtuba University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar.
  • Uzma Malik M.Phil. Scholar Department of English, Qurtuba University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar.
  • Azmat Ali Khan M.Phil. Scholar Department of English, Qurtuba University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar.
  • Amina Hayat BS English: Qurtuba University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar.

Keywords:

Digital Orientalism, Orientalism, Reductionist assumptions, Western digital hegemony, Cultural fetishism, Strategic essentialism, Epistemic mechanism.

Abstract

This research study critically examines the subjective attitude of Western digital media towards the Middle East, portraying it ‘exotic’ and ‘technologically low-born’ region. Digital orientalism, choreographed by the Western digital elites, pontificate on the malicious stereotypes and generalization to denigrate the foreign cultures, especially that of the Middle East. The ‘polemical orientalism’, a key facet of digital orientalist cyberspace, is riddled with aggressive rhetoric, criticizing and demeaning the Eastern culture and societies. This study has technically employed the method of critical discourse analysis to skillfully analyze online news, articles, and social media posts disseminated by the leading Western media conglomerates. The central objective of this research study is to thoroughly identify and demystify the prevailing stereotypes and the biased representational framework denigrating the Middle East, examining how digital orientalism gives a substantial impetus to cultural hegemony and the prevailing power dynamics. This research study’s finding uncover the disruptive and polemical stereotypes and narratives in Western media, highlighting a need of refined understanding of the equitable and inclusive portrayal of the Middle East region to nurture diversity and strengthen cross-cultural understanding.

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Published

2025-01-25

How to Cite

UR Rehman, I., Uzma Malik, Azmat Ali Khan, & Amina Hayat. (2025). Reinventing Stereotypes: An Exploration of Digital Orientalism in Western Media Representation of the Middle East. The Journal of Research Review, 2(01), 36–43. Retrieved from http://thejrr.com/index.php/39/article/view/80
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