Links to the 4 sources
used for our topic: Native Americans
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?papr:1:./temp/~ammem_xf21::
(Buffalo Dance)
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?papr:2:./temp/~ammem_kwpR::
(Sioux Ghost Dance)
http://www.harpweek.com/09Cartoon/BrowseByDateCartoon.asp?Month=January&Date=16
(Cartoon of the Day in 1869)
http://www.harpweek.com/09Cartoon/BrowseByDateCartoon.asp?Month=December&Date=6
(Cartoon of the day in 1879)
This week’s blog post will be focused around Native
Americans and how people of the 19th century viewed them. The first
findings that I found were old vintage films of Native Americans performing
ritual dances. The first two links up above will lead you directly to the
videos being discussed. My first thought when watching these films was how cool
it was to still have film evidence of these rituals that have been going on for
hundreds of years. However, then I noticed that in the films it didn’t look
like the Natives were in their natural habitat and with their whole tribe. This
then lead me to seeing that the Europeans and Whites in the 19th
century didn’t truly value the Natives and their secret ritual dances. It was
purely for their benefit. In the white man being able to show their secrets to
the outsiders, it loses value for the Natives. From what I have understood
through my history classes is that the Native Americans take these dances very
seriously and is something that only their tribes people know. This is making a
statement from the white man that the Natives traditions will last no more.
This then leads into the very judgmental “Cartoon of the Day” clips from the
mid-late 1800’s. Both of these images are highly downgrading to the Native
Americans. Both of them have the European’s taking advantage of them and making
them look like non-human beings; as if they have no rights. The one I dislike
the most even though it is more non chalant is the cartoon of the day in 1879.
This image is showing the Native Americans having to do just stand there and
watch as the white man takes their land and promises them good new homes on
reservations. Knowing how history actually played out makes this image an even
more disturbing one. The other image is no better. It has the image of a white
man holding a Native American by his own hair. In the background there is signs
that state “no shooting” and it contains the white man holding wheat
representing bread. This is representing the fact that the white man is taking
away their right to hunt and continue their usual way of feeding themselves.
Analyzing these photos and videos is a definite eye opener. Even though we read
about this time period in books, seeing it visually makes it hit home a lot
harder. Overall these sources are showing people in the 19th century
didn’t see Native Americans as equal human beings. They saw them as people who
could be pushed around and have their whole life ways taken away from them,
which is precisely what they did. They ruined a way of life for a group of
people and never even thought twice about it. Looking back on these type of
sources also makes us realize how far we have come as a society.
The cartoons of the day were defamatory, as you say, Josh, but what looks like disrespect in filming is due to the limitations of technology. Everything had to be filmed in Edison's "Black Maria" film studio, which was basically an enclosed room on wheels.
ReplyDeleteTeam WHY,
ReplyDeleteI was really fascinated by your post, especially with what I was able to take away from our post. However, I have a question. With the videos of their dances, how are they viewed or devalued by Europeans and whites. Also, I thought it was interesting that Dr. Campbell included that they filmed their dances within the "Black Maria" film studio, which is why you noticed that they didn't look to be in their natural habitat. That was something that i had never known or heard about before. Also, do Native Americans still value their dances today as much as they valued them back in the 1800s?
The next point I was interested in was your "mini clips." From what I was able to gather, the mini clips were used to degrade or discourage Native American activity. Another question I have is, did these mini clips create seperation between the Native Americans and the whites/Europeans? Sorry for all of the questions. I just thought that I learned so many new things from your post and am eager to know more. Great job with analyzing Native Americans in the 1800's. I learned many new things from your blog.
-RESINK (Everett Klodt, Ryan Olson, Spencer Nee)
I hadn’t really taken into consideration the background and how they actually weren’t just doing the dances, but that they were told to so they could be recorded. I thought I remembered reading somewhere that American Indians were opposed to photography because they believed it would capture the soul, but I can’t remember exactly. I was also thinking about how the European settlers treated the Native Americans when they first came and the settlers’ views on their religion. It seems brutal that the Europeans thought the Native Americans’ religion were superstitions that were inspired by the Christian Devil.
ReplyDeleteI also thought that the cartoons were highly offensive. I am also torn and have a side question: are the political cartoons actually being racist or are they meant to be satire on racism and current events? I am also curious as to how the white man took away their right to hunt? Was it because they were taking all their land? Also, one last thing, did you know that in 1882 the federal government began a movement to ban Native American religions? All right, that is all. I hope to see a response from you!
-Damian Clark and Melissa Davis
Thanks for bringing up these issues. Everett & Team WHY--the dances on film were meant to record the ghost dancers, not to denigrate them, and since the dancers were with the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show, the dances were something they might have done commercially. Damion--the cartoons were meant to satirize and confront racism, not to promote it, although with our sensibilities today, the cartoons protesting racism seem racist.
ReplyDelete