In many types of English literature as well as society itself, the idea of ​​us versus them, or you are with me and against them , comes into play. This idea of ​​no gray area creates dichotomous black and white separations that pit people or groups against each other. However, false dichotomies, or binaries, lead to negative consequences and stereotypes in areas where they are liberally and incorrectly applied. Additionally, when there is a gray area, those in between are often ignored or marginalized by the extremes. This East/West opposition has only become more pronounced in the years following the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001. However, even if many consider East and West as two stories Mutually exclusive, East and West share overlap in several major areas, including art, religion, religious and political freedom, and history. The art has had a major influence among both Muslims, representing the East, and non-Islamic Christians, representing the West. In the book My Name Is Red, the author and famous Turkish novelist Orhan Pamukr dissects the heart of 16th century Turkey, straddling the borders of Europe and Asia. Through his narrative, Pamuk uses unusual perspectives to demonstrate the struggle against what some members of the Turkish court saw as negative influence from the West, creating the idea of ​​the binary. While writing from a unique perspective, Pamuk also metaphorically uses red, the color of love, describing Islam as the love between the Prophet Muhammad and Allah. This binary idea is illustrated between the members of the sultan's inner circle or advisors and the artists. In this tale of struggle, the book focuses on the court of Sultan Murat III, which is about art, religion and a mutually exclusive false history. This concept leads to divisions and misunderstandings between regions and cultures. This idea that the West and the East are mutually exclusive must be continually challenged by scholars, religious leaders, and the ordinary historian. Works Cited Curtis, Edward E.. Muslims in America: a short history. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print. Ernest, William. “The limits of universalism in Islamic thought: the case of Indian religions”. The Muslim World 101 (2011): n. page. N/A. Internet. April 29, 2014. Gettleman, Marvin E.. The Middle East and Islamic World Reader. Rev. and ed. increased. New York, NY: Grove Press, 2012. Print. Pamuk, Orhan. My name is Red. New York: Vintage International, 2001. Print. Safi, Omid. Memories of Muhammad: why the prophet is important. New York, NY: HarperOne, 2010-2009. Print.