Edward Said - Dr Clare Johnson

In what ways have images or objects been used to exaggerate differences between 'us' and 'them', 'native' and 'foreign'?

Images and objects in modern and historical art and have been used as a device to divide groups. These groups can span many areas (class, race gender) but ultimately split down into two categories; the 'in' group and the 'out' group. Whichever group the artist identifies with is the in group, and is often portrayed in a much kinder manner, exaggerating the 'in' group's good traits and exaggerating the 'out' group's bad traits. This creates a hierarchy. The hierarchy is likely already in place within contemporary society and likely unspoken, but by the image/objects imitating this pre-existing hierarchy, it continues to reinforce it.