White on White: When the West Represents the Rest Who Comes Off Worse?
In this magazine article, the writer is evaluating the validity of certain stereotypical ideas of the past. He is using the studies done by a researcher named Jan Nederveen Pieterse, as a reference to what many people believed about the African American race. Pieterse conducted a study in which people were shown photographs and they had to describe the person based on how they looked. In the study they found many uncertain conclusions drawn from a simple image, many of which were negative. This lead the writer to search for the reason for stereotypes and lead the conclusion that stereotypes are more then just simplified images, but rather a result of a complex dynamic of historical antagonisms.
When stereotypes first began will forever be a mystery to many, however it is apparent that people were not precise and created these for social reassurance. This leads to many unanswered questions: What is a Stereotype exactly? Where did they first being? What makes one culture better than the other?
Citation:
Lemke, Sieglinde. "White on White: When the West Represents...Rest, Who Comes Off Worse?." Transition. Winter 1993: 145-154. SIRS Renaissance. Web. 13 Feb 2012.
It's seem it's human nature for people to judge other people. Stereotypes are viewed as negative most often. Even within this post, it's mentioned that people can come up with an entire description of what a person is like based on one image. If you look like a duck, sound like a duck, and hang out with ducks, you most-likely are a duck. Stereotypes do exist for a reason, so to make an assumption based on prior knowledge of a particular type of person isn't wrong unless it's taken to another level. But to label people and place them into categories based on stereoptypes without getting to know the person is wrong and that's where stereotypes can be destructive.
ReplyDeleteI agree with her as well. To a certain extent, stereotypes can be a problem but it is human nature to judge and be judged. Also, I don't think your third question can be answered because it is solely based on opinion.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that stereotypes are always taken serious by everyone, in my opinion I think most people don't think just because of how someone look or what race they are that the stereotype about them is true. It seems people like to joke around with them, and also not all stereotypes are world wide.
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