Bright Minds

In the 19th century, there was a shift in how people thought about the world. After the Enlightenment, which focused on reason and logic, a new movement called Romanticism took hold. Romantic thinkers were no longer content with only science and reason. They turned to the mysteries and dramatic stories of Christianity, with their themes of life and death, creation and destruction, heaven and hell. They believed these old, powerful ideas could help guide the future, but they wanted to reshape them in ways that made sense for their time. One such idea that came up during the Romantic era was the belief that Europe could be "saved" or renewed by learning from Asia. Some thinkers, like Friedrich Schlegel and Novalis, believed that studying Indian culture and religion could help Europe overcome its problems, like materialism and political issues. They thought that by understanding Asia, Europe could be reborn, just like the Biblical idea of death and resurrection. This idea of a ...

Introduction: Orientalism is a way that Western (European and American) scholars and writers have looked at the East, which includes countries like Egypt, India, China, and the Arab world. But Orientalism is not just an innocent study of the East. It often comes with stereotypes, or fixed ideas, that make people from the East look strange, exotic, or backward. In this blog, we’ll look at some simple ideas from Orientalism and why they matter. What Orientalism Thinks of the East: Orientalism has a habit of turning people from the East into characters, like they are in a story. It often shows them as if they are all the same, without any individuality. For example, some Orientalists see all Arabs as "camel-riding, terroristic, or too rich without any hard work." They make it seem like Eastern people do not understand self-government or progress, like they cannot govern themselves or improve their lives. Orientalism Ignores Real Change: Orientalists often ignore the real politic...

Orientalism refers to the way Western cultures view and represent Eastern societies, particularly during the time of colonialism. This term includes the art, literature, and scholarly studies that depict Eastern cultures, often portraying them as mysterious, exotic, or backward. Many Western writers created images of the East that did not reflect reality and instead relied on stereotypes. For instance, they often described Eastern people as passive or unable to make decisions for themselves. During the colonial period, Western countries, especially Britain and France, had interests in the East. They viewed these regions as places to control or exploit. For example, Western powers believed they had a duty as Christian nations to protect and change Islamic cultures to suit their own purposes. This idea created a complex relationship where the West dominated the East, often disregarding the realities of the people living there. The writings of Western authors played a significant role in ...

In history, Western leaders like Napoleon saw the East (or Orient) through books and ideas shaped by "Orientalism." Orientalism is a way of thinking about the East that often simplifies and misrepresents it. People like Napoleon and others who followed this tradition believed what these books said about the Orient and used them to guide their actions without actually knowing or understanding the people of the region. Books vs. Real Life: When people only rely on books or written information, they miss the complexity of real life. A book might say that all lions are fierce, and if someone encounters one fierce lion, they’ll believe that all lions are exactly like that. If the book also says how to handle a fierce lion and this advice works, people will trust that author even more and might even rely on them for more "knowledge" about lions. Over time, more books will repeat this idea of fierce lions, creating a belief that doesn’t leave room for other views. This hap...

  Today, many people with microphones and cameras act like they are real Journalists, even though they don’t have any educational background in the media. For example, when someone is accused of a crime, they are not guilty until the court decides. But some reporters, like Yousaf Jan Utmanzai, talk about these people as if they are already guilty. This hurts the person’s reputation deeply. If that person is later found innocent, the damage is already done, and cannot be recovered. This style of reporting is unethical and harmful not only to Journalism's credibility but to that victim as well, who has to face the harsh judgement of the society later on. Another big problem with these “mic reporters” is that they mostly portray negative stories about Pukhtuns, which gives viewers the wrong idea about the community. They highlight rare incidents or problems and make it look like they are common. This makes others believe these stereotypes about Pukhtuns. These reporters often say that...

There are many ways women are shown in the media, but often in a patriarchal system, women are looked down on by men. In this post, I want to talk about how women are shown in visual media, like TV and movies. As a media student, I will use the "Male Gaze Theory." This idea was introduced by feminist film expert Laura Mulvey. It says that women are shown mostly to please men’s eyes—they are objectified and sexualized, instead of being shown as full and complex people. This type of portrayal supports patriarchal ideas, where men play active and important roles in stories, while women are passive and exist mainly to be watched by men. In other words, women are put there for men’s benefit.h The Male Gaze theory explains how media strengthens gender roles by giving men the power of looking, while women are just there to be looked at. This continues the unfair treatment of women in visual culture. The theory also shows how women in media don’t have control over their own stories a...