My MA thesis dealt with this theme with respect to Egypt- How America is represented in Egyptian media in modern times (while also tracing out the history of the Arab encounter with the US). Much of what I found was the articulation of the same age old stereotypes found within Western or American dominant discourse. In many ways, the way ‘America’ was portrayed caused the Egyptians to ‘orientalize’ themselves so to speak: there are such things as East and West (the classic binary), America is stronger, imperialist, supposed to representative democracy and diversity, yet hypocritical in its actions abroad due to pursuit of ‘strategic interests.’ While the Egyptians are stuck to their old ways, unable to resist strong America, authoritarian, a part of an old and dying world. Thus we also step into the world similar to that of the ‘native informant,’ or the ‘native’ who has incorporated the dominant discourse and can inform upon his or her brethren to the world (or Western, dominant, universal, world) as an affirmation that the dominant discourse is indeed an accurate reflection of the state of affairs- the West is indeed the shining city upon the hill and the ‘others’ the Arabs, etc. have some sort of inherent trait- be it Islam, tribalism, or something else that makes them somehow unable to “catch up” or embrace the modern world. Barbarians, of course.
Enter South East Asia. Here I am, caught in this supposed pivot towards Asia. And who is the monster to tame? China, of course. Being much less familiar with the dynamics of South East Asia, aside from some studies on how capitalism does NOT necessarily lead to democracy (Exhibit A: China), I decided to embark on my quest in a similar fashion to the one I previously undertook: How did/does ‘China’ experience America? And I put China in those cute little marks to show that I really mean an idea or an articulation- for there are many Chinas, right? Many variations on what China is- some of those articulations represent China as a homogenous entity ready to pursue battle with a just as solid, and homogeneous articulation of ‘America.’ But surely China gets to be more complicated than that- the communist party, the Chinese Navy, the private sector, etc.
Step one of my journey has been the book, China’s America by Jing Li. Not surprisingly, many of the same themes occur. China used to be a powerful empire that was eventually subject to the imperialism of technologically superior Western powers. In steps the questioning of “why did we get left behind?” Much of the initial encounters with the US were in the form of missionaries who set up multiple schools throughout China, just like the Middle East. And the US wasn’t seen as bad of an entity when it wasn’t as bad compared to other European powers- only minor jerks.
"The U.S. did, in 1900, join seven other powers in an allied expedition to China to
suppress an anti foreign uprising raging in China then, the Boxer Rebellion.
But it was also at this time that Washington put forward the famous Open Door Doctrine, calling upon the foreign powers to respect China’s territorial, if not sovereign, integrity. Under this arrangement, China could continue to exist as one country while the Western nations would maintain and expand their privileges in the eastern land. This was far from ideal for the Chinese; but, given their lot at the time, many Chinese were relieved to see that, partly due to U.S. intervention, their country would avert partition or total colonization, for the time being at least" (13).
So, just not as big of assholes as everyone else. American movies were fascinating but American meddling in China’s domestic affairs was more than irritating. Ambivalence would be the right descriptor.
The book continues to elaborate on the experience through the 2000’s, and there are a variety of them. But I think the more distant past is of the greatest interest. Americans seem to have a forgetfulness about the fact that their country has, in fact, been greatly involved in the fates of other countries for well over 100 years. There is often a forgetfulness that this past experience may shape modern day perceptions and relationships. In any case, my exploration of China’s encounter begins, as best it can in the English language.
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