Edward Said developed his theory of Orientalism in 1978. His theory looked at how Western cultures have treated the East, which includes Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. There is differentiation on what parts of the Occident view the Orient, as the United States has become more tied with the Middle East. In contrast, Europe’s vast history of trade and colonization has connected them with Africa and Asia. The image that has been created has belittled cultures, taken away their meaning, and risks the people in the culture from abandoning it altogether. When power becomes a significant part of the cultural norms, those who are a part of the Orient want to assimilate. Said focuses on three main aspects. First, he looks at how the Orient can be studied for its culture and how it has been misconstrued. Then, Said understands the imaginary definition of the Orient, as the culture has been taken by artists of many mediums to establish the differences that exist in society. This has primarily been done by using the “Other,” as it usually creates false images around the culture as a whole. While the issue of making the culture different has mainly been seen through the Occident, there are still those in the Orient who “Other” their own culture because of the desire to assimilate to the West. Finally, he looks at how the East has been used for power and control.