oa Internalized Orientalism in the Western Capitalist Organization of Music

The article explores how Middle Eastern musicians navigate the Western capitalist music industry, often perpetuating orientalist stereotypes even when attempting to counteract them. The article examines the case of Iranian musician Samar Rad, whose work, despite aiming to challenge negative portrayals of Iran, ends up reinforcing exotic and static cultural images. The authors argue that to resist these imposed representations, musicians must adopt an activist stance, which frequently relegates them to the fringes of the industry with limited economic opportunities. This research highlights the tension between artistic freedom and market demands, questioning who has the privilege to engage in activism and the broader implications for marginalized musicians in global contexts.

Keywords: Artistic Freedom ; Exoticism ; Exoticization of cultural identity ; Internalised orientalism ; Iran ; Marginalized Musicians ; Middle Eastern Musicians ; Persian Dastgah Music ; Western Capitalist Music Industry ; World music