Representation of Arab identity: The Politics of Mimesis

Abstract

Mimesis, the faculty of imitation, is a channelised process, routing through three ports: the represented, the presenter and the receiver. The object/matter of imitation is selected from the experience of the represented, is framed by the presenter and then perceived by the receiver. When we talk about the selection of the matter that is represented we actually are referring to the subjectivity of the presenter through which all the images are refracted. Then these ‘chosen’ imitations meet the predisposed gaze of the receiver whose response makes or mars the image of the represented. This process of imitation gives rise to the politics of mimesis. The mediations among the represented, the presenter and the receiver are created on the interface between history and reality, where context plays a significant role. By ‘context’ we mean a pluralistic understanding of the political, geographical and social history of a given matter. Themulti-axial comprehension of any form of mimesis particularly of the Arab identity is the urgent need of the day. The schism between Arab states and the rest of the world is progressively widening due to little or prejudiced knowledge about their culture, faith, social construction and topography. One of the major reasons behind this is repeatedly encrusted stereotypes popularised by media. Though there are positive portrayals as well yet the negative images are far more confounding and prominent.