Bond and Orientalism

“It is quite common to hear high officials in Washington and elsewhere speak of changing the map of the Middle East, as if ancient societies and myriad peoples can be shaken up like so many peanuts in a jar.”
― Edward W. Said

This week we addressed the topic of Orientalism. Edward Said's take on Orientalism allows us to consider how much we really do partake in it. In relation to Orientalism, the East is negatively perceived as engaging in totalitarianism and oppression. Post World War II, the world was essentially divided in two. There was the Imperialist Capitalist and the Communist Progressive. We watched scenes from the James Bond movie Goldfinger and related it to the idea of Orientalism as well. In the film, James Bond represents a number of things. Essentially, he embodies the values of Western culture. He is tall, handsome, well-liked, and strong, all while representing individualism, freedom, security, and capitalism. The enemies in the film are representations of Eastern culture. We have to consider why all of this is relevant. There is a destabilized environment which leaves room for the USSR to take control. Bond portrays the "ideal British man"/ "English gentleman," in order to maintain Britain as a global power. There is also the whole concept of the "Bond girl." In the 1960's films, the Bond girl is tailored to meet Bond's every move. As the films has progressed though, the Bond girl has evolved to be more independent, strong, and self-sufficient.