Graduation Term

2024

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

Committee Chair

Bruce R. Burningham

Abstract

This thesis builds upon Edward Said’s seminal work, "Orientalism," to explore the complex dynamics of "Otherness" in Western thought across various contexts. Said’s theory elucidates how the West has historically constructed a distorted image of the East to justify colonial dominance, framing the East as a mere extension of Western fantasies and fears. This study expands Said’s framework by applying it to a diverse range of texts beyond the Muslim world, examining how Western narratives perpetuate the Exotic, Barbaric, and Parodied Other. The first part of the thesis juxtaposes Hernán Cortés’s "Cartas de relación" with Netflix’s "Marco Polo," illustrating how both texts, despite their different historical and cultural contexts, similarly depict indigenous cultures through reductive and dehumanizing lenses. The second part introduces a novel dimension by investigating the role of parody in constructing the Other. Through analyses of Miguel de Cervantes’s "Don Quijote," John Hughes’s "Sixteen Candles," and Emilio Martínez-Lázaro’s "Ocho apellidos vascos," this thesis highlights how parody reinforces rather than subverts existing stereotypes, revealing the persistent and insidious nature of cultural biases. By broadening the application of Said’s theory and introducing the concept of the Parodied Other, this research aims to deepen our understanding of how identity and power are negotiated in cultural narratives, fostering a more nuanced critique of global representations of the Other.

Access Type

Thesis-Open Access

DOI

https://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2024.20240827063557071531.999984

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