What is meant by the word exotification?

Exotification refers to the process of portraying a culture, group, or individual as exotic, mysterious, or fundamentally different from the norm, often through stereotypes or romanticized imagery. This practice can lead to the oversimplification and commodification of cultures, reducing complex identities to superficial traits. Exotification often serves to reinforce power dynamics, where dominant cultures view and represent marginalized groups as “other.” It can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and distort the authentic experiences and voices of those being depicted.