Orientalism and The Dictator.

The Dictator, from the makers of Borat and Ali G, is about a dictator of Wadiya named Aladeen, where he gets escorted to America and gets to explore the country. This film shows orientalism but it is Hollywood's take on the east and shows the stereotypes towards to east. But also the way the west sees the east as one group that shares the same identity.

The Dictator plays on western ideas of the east and the racism towards them. The whole film shows how the west sees the east in different ways. But this post will be about the trailer of the film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYplvwBvGA4

The first glance of orientalism can be seen in the trailer of the film. The trailer uses Bollywood type music but the film is more about Middle Easterners. This shows orientalism is because it understands that the entire east is in one area. This gives that idea of cultural flattening. This means to add all eastern cultures together and merge them into one. In one part of the trailer Aladeen arrives to America and one character says, “You should visit the Empire State building before you or one of your cousins talks it down.” This shows orientalism and racism because of his appearance they think he is Muslim and because of this they think he is a terrorist. It shows orientalism because he is suspecting that only the east does these sorts of things. One part of the trailer he says he is “for equal women's rights and equal election” and the Aladeen just laughs it off and says he can’t say that with a straight face. This can vaguely show that people is the east don't treat women the same way, but also that they won't be able to do that ever, this can relate to the east being inferior and the west being powerful.

The humour of the film comes from the western ideas of the east and makes fun or plays in them. The ideas of western men being angry and violent are played upon in this film or women not having an education or not being respected. This film also brings up racist jokes about terrorism and representations of the east.

Many other aspects of this film show the idea of orientalism and the racism towards the east. But Sacha Baron Cohen is known for having films like this, the ones that uses satire and comedy to illustrate the complex and serious ideas. So this is why the movie is seen like this.

Thank you for reading this post.