According to Edward Said (1979), the concept of “orientalism” refers to the opposition of European/North American culture. However, what is considered opposition to Western culture is determined by Westerners themselves, who have created a false identity of the “orient.” To be labeled as “oriental” implies being exotic, impure, uneducated, and other false characteristics. Said describes how the Western gaze tends to “other” people who are perceived as different from their culture. While “oriental” is often associated with Asian and Arab identities, it can be applied to any identity that is unaligned with European/North American culture, as defined by those cultures.
This concept of “orientalism” influences Westerners’ perception of eating insects. People who consume insects may be identified as “orientals” according to Edward Said’s definition, due to the difference in food cultures between non-Western and Western societies. Eating insects is considered to be exotic, the opposite of Western ideals, focused on purity, and therefore has not been incorporated into Western dishes.