The Searchers

There were many scenes that stood out to me in regards to how it represents traditional Western American values but the one that I thought had a bigger impact was when Martin was speaking to Laurie. This is due to the fact that it breaks a lot of the tradition in what makes a man and a woman.

We see that Martin and Laurie are speaking about their relationship to which he says: 'You know, Laurie, I was just thinking that maybe it's about time you and me started going steady, huh?' This is something that would be said by the woman traditionally as it is something that would be traditionally feminine. We can see throughout the movie how the stereotypical gender roles are being defined and how they are being changed. For example, when they were both speaking about their relationship, Laurie pushes Martin over the bench, which can typically be questioned as this is not something that would be associated with what a woman would do. This can question the myths that are normally associated with Western America, we see males that typically fall under the myths of Western America, for example - Ethan.

We see Ethan at the beginning of the movie as the scene is set with him riding towards the camera on his horse wearing a 'cowboy hat', one of the main things that you would categorize with Western America. We see him as the main protagonist demonstrating throughout the film his intelligence with the Native Americans. We see the scene when he speaks to Scar, he speaks in the native tongue, seeking justice as the typical enemy of the typical cowboy with the badge. We also see Ethan living up to typical American standards of being white. When Debbie is taken from them and they find her with the Native populace, he leaves/wants to kill her. He does say that she is one of them due to her tan from being in the sun and wearing the cultural garments the natives did. 
We see him being the typical cowboy who has trouble following him wherever he goes. This could be argued why right at the end of the film, we see him walking away from the house once he brings back Debbie and everyone goes in. We could argue that he knows that he did what he originally set out to do. He promised to bring her home and one of the traditions of being a cowboy is not breaking a promise. 

Going back to the movie, a lot of the scenes take place where the sky is blue and there is nothing/very little in the background. This is something that is typically seen throughout all Westerns and it's something that makes the movies unique and something that lives up to It's traditions. We see at times where the land becomes part of what is happening on screen, for example, when the Americans are running across the river and then natives are following, the Americans shoot at the natives crossing the river. Due to the water, it would make it harder for the natives to flee due to the force and pressure of them trying to move with the water hitting the legs of the horse. This shows the river/surroundings joining in within the shootout taking place.
We even see something similar when Ethan and Martin are sleeping. Someone is using the rocks as an advantage for height to shoot Martin and Ethan (at the time, Ethan used Martin as bait)

The Searchers

This scene in the film The Searchers is where Ethan and Martin find Debbie for the first time. It is a significant scene in the plot of the film as, by finding Debbie, they have completed a five year long search. The entire film up to that point has been a story following the search for Debbie after she was kidnapped early on in the film. However, this scene is key in demonstrating some ideas and myths about the American West and the way in which people lived and the ideologies that they followed. Throughout the film, the 'Indians' are viewed as the enemy by Ethan, the Texas Rangers and the other white settlers and are demonstrated as such in the way that they ambush and attack the whites throughout the film. This reinforces the idea that white settlers and frontiersmen saw the Native Americans as the enemy and, despite trading with them, would often find themselves in some kind of conflict.

This scene in particular gives an interesting perspective on the way in which the majority of white settlers in the west viewed the Natives. Ethan tries to shoot and kill Debbie in this scene. The reasoning behind this is that she has become an 'Indian.' It does not matter to Ethan that she is his family, he sees her as an 'Indian' so tries to murder her as opposed to taking her home to the family. It suggests that people who decided to live with Native American tribes or follow their way of life were seen as bad as the Natives and no longer welcome among the settler community.

Furthermore, Martin has to stand in front of Debbie in order to protect her from Ethan. Martin himself is part Cherokee and throughout the film is on the receiving end of racist remarks from Ethan. This further reinforces the idea that if you were Native or even carried a little Native blood you were still inferior to the whites. The way in which he tries to protect Debbie suggests that he still sees her as the Debbie he always knew and still refers to her as his sister. This suggests the idea that family is the most important thing in life, which seems to prominent across the American West. His defence of Debbie, despite her change, offers the view that she is still family and they still have a duty to keep her safe and take her home to the rest of the family.

Sources

http://www.filmsite.org/sear.htmlThe Searchers (Dir John Ford, 1956)

The Searchers- Closing Scene

The Searchers- Closing Scene

'The Searchers' is an American-Western film that was released in 1956. It was directed by John Ford and has become one of the most iconic Western films to date. The film's origins relate back to the novel by Alan Lemay, and the film's script being written by Ford's Son-in-Law.

When analysing the closing scene, it is perhaps clearer to look at the scene chronologically. From a first glance, it is the setting alone that represents and encourages the myths of the American West. There is the iconic setting of almost an isolated house, with the family sitting and waiting on the porch for the men to return. In addition, both the music and landscape around the house, consisting of wildlife such as horses, really creates the atmosphere of the American West.

Building on this, the characterisation of the female characters also reinforces the gender stereotypes both in film and within the context of the film. The mother and daughter are at home, waiting for the men to return with their sister, who can also be seen as the damsel in distress. The women are both equally shocked and the daughter runs with anticipation to greet her love. This can compare to the relatively relaxed man in the rocking chair and the man on the porch.

As the scene progresses and the parents lead their daughter inside, it is Ethan who is left alone on the porch. The scene unfolds with everyone greeting their loved ones and inviting them inside. Ethan is left almost forgotten on the porch right by the door frame. Instead of joining the family, Ethan walks away from the house, and into the distance. This can highlight the mythology of the American-West, and also the American Cowboy, the Lone Ranger. Ethan is someone who cannot be tied down like the other domesticated men in the film. He seeks adventure and moves from place to place. The image of him fading into the distance, as well as the closing door, can reflect the freedom men had at the time. Ethan is free to go wherever he chooses, and it adds the mystery associated with the lone ranger/cowboy.

The final scene has become iconic in Hollywood film. The closing of the door right at the end, not only closes the film very well, but also leaves the viewer in a poignant mind-set. While I have only selected one scene to analyse, the film holds so many iconic scenes that both represent and hinder the mythology of the American-West.

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoDigplUtKU&spfreload=5
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-the-searchers-1956

The Searchers-Opening Scene

The opening scene of 'The Searchers' is iconic, as it literally opens the door for the audience into a classic western setting, in which the film is located. The bright blue sky with the dark brown canyons is typical of 'the West'. However the fact that we, as an audience, have to travel through a vessel (the house) in order to reach this western setting, makes the whole western experience feel more fabricated and fictional than perhaps other western films do. In 1956, the audience was encouraged to leave the stress of Cold War and the pressures of the 'Red Scare' and 'McCarthyism', and enter this world of 'Cowboys and Indians' in a similar way to how more contemporary science-fiction films attempt to do. The key difference between the two genres however, is that westerns are saturated in real and fairly controversial history, whereas sci-fi films are often more obviously fictional stories. The use of the house in 'The Searchers' therefore has far more gravitas, as it is crucial in defining the film as a work of fiction and not an historical piece of film, or not wholly historical overall.

As the scene progresses, the silhouette of the woman walks outside onto the porch of her house and the camera follows her, displaying a clearer shot of her surroundings. It is significant having a female character in this scene, as it typifies the attitudes towards gender at the time (in which the film was initially set: 1868). As seen in 'Little House on the Prairie', the women were often expected to remain in the home and wait for their husband to return from hunting or excursions. In this shot, there is definitely a sense of eagerness emitted from the woman, as she gazes out onto the horizon, as if to see if anyone was out there. The wooden pillar that she is leaning on is also important, as it signifies the alleged fragility of women at the time and how she needed something to support her, while the men were away.

The two male characters in the scene both represent and question dominant myths of the 'American West'.


The first shot of a male character falls into the stereotype of western films. Ethan is shown riding a horse, wearing a 'cowboy hat', through the desert, towards the audience (in a point of view shot from the perspective of the female character). Due to the setting and the fact that Ethan is a solitary figure amongst the 'sublime' landscape, reinforces the stereotypical profile of cowboys in western films. This shot also hints at later developments in the plot of the film with the American Indian-style piece of fabric in the foreground. As shown in an earlier shot, this is right outside the house and may be a trophy of a previous victory against the American Indians, suggesting there has been and may still be conflict later in the film. This also adds to the stereotypical nature of this western, as American Indians are often portrayed as the villains, or at least sub-villains of the heroic cowboy figures in these films.

The second male character in the scene is portrayed differently from Ethan and can be justifiably compared with the female character. This shot depicts both the male and female staring out at the western landscape and noticing Ethan approaching their house. He appears to be healthy and relatively intelligent, as he thoughtfully scours what is ahead of him. However, there isn't the same level of interest or awe that can be ascertained from the shot of Ethan. This is predominantly due to the fact that he has his house and wife that embodies the background of the shot, which quells any mysteriousness about the character. This mysteriousness is present in the shot of Ethan, and is typical of a western film, as the audience does not know where Ethan has come from, due to the landscape from which he has travelled.

Overall, this scene mixes typical representations of the dominant myths of the 'American West', with some aspects that challenge and question the 'typical' American western film,

Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy2-abqR8B4

The Searchers - Indian Ambush

The shootout scene of the film, where Ethan and the small band of Texas Rangers defend themselves from an Indian ambush, can be argued to be one of the best representations of the myths of the American West, especially myths regarding the cowboy.

Ethan, clearly the Cowboy of the movie, as well as the main protagonist (even if he comes off as an antihero sometimes), clearly demonstrates his superior knowledge of the American Indians, forever the stereotypical enemy of the Cowboy. Before the shootout begins, Ethan can be said to be adhering to at least some of Gene Autry's Cowboy Commandments, such as '[the Cowboy] must always tell the truth' and 'the Cowboy is a patriot'. Ethan adheres to these two in particular as he relays accurate knowledge of Indian pre-battle songs to Captain Clayton, and that he is defending the land which he, and by extension the Texas Rangers, occupy (in a very typical manner: shoot first, ask questions later). Ethan even waits until the Indians are within range before he starts shooting, making for three of the Cowboy Commandments being obeyed, although it could be argued that he's simply waiting for a greater chance of a confirmed kill.

However, once the shootout begins, Ethan's morality begins to slide, as he bears no regard for the horses which the Indians use as mounts, going against one of Autry's Cowboy Commandments. Not much later on, Ethan shoots at the Indians as they are retreating, which even Captain Clayton regards to be cold behaviour. It could be argued that in doing this, as well as beginning to clearly display hatred of the American Indians (even if most of it is aimed at Scar, the warband's leader), Ethan goes against two more of the 'rules' of being a Cowboy.

Going above Ethan's role as the Cowboy, however, one can see that this scene displays aspects of the ideas of both wilderness and civilisation. Ethan's pragmatism, as well as his holding onto the past and the desire for freedom that the band of Rangers possesses, all adhere to the idea of the wilderness, whereas the knowledge they possess, and the refinement of a kind of social strata, not to mention the social responsibility which Captain Clayton feels he possesses, are all indicative of civilisation.

Thusly, it is possible to conclude that this scene from 'The Searchers' both confirms and challenges myths about the American West. Although a somewhat romanticised film, particularly in it's cringe-worthy plot, there are elements of what real life in the frontier would have been like: the threat of Indian raids, American settlers killing bison for little more than sport, Rangers trying to keep the peace. These things are suggestive of a harsh environment, where a simple rule could be 'kill or be killed', and as the American settlers were the strangers to these parts for many years, this was very likely the case. However, the romanticism on display, such as the relatively simple revenge story, as well as the almost-unnecessary romance, implies that the frontier was also a place where love could conquer (almost) anything, and that blatant disregard for the rules of the land was almost never punished, seeing as those breaking said rules were, supposedly, regarded as heroes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc8glsGbIus

When looking at this image, you are able to see just how much their lives have affected them.  We can see that the American dream is not lived through this family due to their condition. We know that the dream was inspired for people to come to a land that offered greatness, wealth, and health to those who seek it. It is not represented through this image as they are living in a tent with no provision arises. We can see that they don't have a house or anything with stable walls or a roof. This is a contrast to what they could be here for, as at the time the American Dream was taking shape and this image is the true representation of the Dream for some.
By looking at the image, we are able to see that the income is very minimal. We see no man in the photo which means that he could be working or he is not here.



Looking at this image, I would see it being incredibly lonely. It seems that there is nothing surrounding them, no people or cities, it's just them. This allows the audience to become a little more appreciative of what it is that they have. They have a lack of socialism, as they have nobody to interact with, nothing in the image is proving to me that there is anything showing them about any other people in local cities. There are no advertisements for them to see and no roads of trail roads for others/them to access.
Their shelter/house is a small ruined camp tent made from what looks like grain bags and cotton sheets. They have a very small provisional case as we can see, that looks like it contains everything they own, from clothes to any personal items.

'Black Sunday'

This photograph was taken in Dodge City, Kansas in April of 1935. In shows the centre of the town in the midst of a dust storm. Dodge City is right in the heart of the so called dust bowl. The kind of storms were common across the great plains but this is considered to be one of the biggest and more intense storms. It became known as 'Black Sunday' due to the thickness of the dust which came over the down like a cloud of black dust which crossed the great plains and passed through several cities in several states. Places in Oklahoma and Texas were affected as well as Kansas. Cities such as Amarillo, TX and Norman, OK were also heavily affected by the cloud of dust. This dust was described as being so thick that it drifted in like snow. The storm resulted in huge agricultural damage, and as a result, immense economic issues for the area. It is believed that the storm was responsible for displacing around 300 million tons of top soil, making farming in the area extremely tough. A number of causes have been suggested as the reason for these storms such as poor farming techniques, over-farming of the land and the invention and use of machinery such as the tractor.

The image itself shows a number of cars parked on an empty street in the middle of the storm. This suggests that the people who were lucky enough to keep their cars through the depression were affected by the consequences of the agricultural issues present throughout the depression. In these areas of the great plains, there was no escaping the great depression, no matter how fortunate you were when it came to finances and possessions. Furthermore, it shows that the agricultural issues suffered throughout the dust bowl were not strictly limited to farms and urban areas, they also had a large impact on the towns in the form of both dust forms, as shown, and the lack of produce being grown and brought into the cities for consumption.
Other images of the 'Black Sunday' dust storm

Sources
http://www.kansas.com/news/article986206.html
http://www.dodgeglobe.com/article/20100414/NEWS/304149995
https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-19350414-maps

Christmas Dinner in Iowa 1936

Russell Lee, “Christmas dinner in the home of Earl Pauley. Near Smithfield, Iowa. Dinner consisted of potatoes, cabbage and pie” 1936

This image shows children around a table having their Christmas dinner in 1936. This image shows the hardships that many families faced during the great depression, one being that they could not afford to have a big Christmas dinner or presents due to the lack of money the family had.

This photo leads to a lot of questions, such as where are the parents when this picture was taken. in the picture you can clearly see an empty chair, which is presumably where the parents will sit. there is another image where the father is sat at the table with the children, but this one is most likely used as it shows more the hardships of the Great Depression, and what a large family had to go through, as represented here with the many children and little food on Christmas.

Many of the questions that are raised about this picture are answered in an article by the Sioux city journal, where Helen Pauley Hopkins, the child closest to the camera, is tracked down later and asked about the photograph.

In the article Helen talks about the struggles they had throughout the great depression, like the struggle for money and food, and talks about how they overcame it. Helen emphasises that “None of us was rich” and that “we worked for whatever we had.” this shows that all throughout the Great Depression and even after many struggled for most if not all their lives for money to be able to live, it wasn't just this period of time where people were affected.

the dinner was made of potatoes, cabbage and pie, which ultimately was all they could afford to buy and make at this time. Helen realises that her parents sometimes probably went without food so that their children could eat, which could be evidence for the lack of the parents in the picture, as they wanted to ensure their children are first before they did. this need to feed their children probably increased when 2 of their children died during the great depression, one at birth and one before they reached the age of 4.

To get by, one the children were old enough they all found jobs. Mary, their mother, and six of the girls worked summers at a chicken processing plant in Mapleton, whilst Paul, the father, had a job maintaining roads for Monona County. This shows the immense struggle they had to go through to live during and after the great depression, explaining the image above and how so many families survived during the time.

source: http://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/columnists/article_f5a898ac-fd47-5c71-b03b-f210fb5a9df7.html

World's Highest Standard of Living - 1937

'Men and women stand in line to collect goods from a relief station following the Great Ohio Flood of 1937, underneath a billboard proclaiming "World's Highest Standard of Living"'

Here in this picture, one can see the staggering changes that the Great Depression brought to the United States of America. The poster behind the long line of people describes how America pictured itself in the Roaring Twenties, and how the Americans thought they would still be in the Thirties: a nation with vast wealth, luxury and prosperity. However, while the family on the poster is smiling on their drive in a brand new Ford automobile, complete with their dog and fancy clothing, the people standing in line underneath the billboard are relatively shabby, likely carrying what few possessions they have with them in their bags and baskets, and do not look anywhere near as happy.

For context, these people are effectively refugees of the Great Ohio Flood of 1937. This catastrophic event caused almost $20 million in damages, and left hundreds of thousands without a home or the bare necessities of life. These people are waiting in line for food and fresh clothes at a relief station, almost basking in the ultimate irony of the billboard they are under; what they are going through is most certainly not the 'highest standard of living', and one could even say that the Great Flood was nature's way of combatting the New Deal, and FDR's attempts to restore America in general, as if nature was fighting back against the onslaught of technological progress. The fact that the poster remains visibly undamaged by the flood where most everything else has been damaged or outright lost possibly suggests that this life is still possible in that time, or even that no matter how hard nature may try, this technological advancement is inexorable.

On another level, the family on the billboard is completely white, and the picture of a perfect 'nuclear family' (even though the concept of such hadn't been invented), whereas practically all of the homeless are black, almost as if they are excluded from the 'American Way' of living, or are simply incapable of attaining such a life of extravagance. Such an idea calls back to the racial tensions which gripped America from the advent of slavery right up to the Civil Rights era, and beyond, and it is likely that this photograph was captured with such an idea in mind.

Dorothea Lange "Field Worker's Home" 1937

Dorothea Lange "Field Worker's Home" 1937

This photograph was captured by Dorothea Lange in 1937. As a documentary photographer, Lange famously captured the lives of many during, and after, the Great Depression. She worked with the Farm Security Administration and some of her other iconic photographs include "Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California" and "White Angel Breadline, San Francisco".

This picture has captured a family who are struggling to maintain a standard of living. Normally, we might associate the word 'home' with a proper house, a fire and home comforts. However, in this picture, Lange brings a larger realisation into the circumstances that some are finding themselves in.

What is most striking about this picture is probably the state of the 'home' itself. Made with pieces of scrap and appearing to be more of a hut, it conveys how some were living below the poverty line at the time. It also highlights the desperation people may feel to provide their families with shelter.

In addition, when looking further into the picture, you can identity a young child inside the house. The shyness and uncertainty that the child presents adds further emotion to this photograph. It causes the viewer to sympathise with the family even further. It also makes the viewer contemplate the future of the children in this picture; if they will receive an education, what career prospects they might have, etc.

In summary, this photograph is very emotive. Lange has captured what appears to be an ordinary family setting, but in the most struggling of circumstances.


Sources:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/dorothea-lange-biography-with-photo-gallery/3097/

Toward Los Angeles

This is a Dorothea Lange photo called 'Toward Los Angeles', taken in 1937. It depicts two men walking down a dusty road. To the right of them, there is a sign which is contradictory to the situation in which the men find themselves. There is use of juxtaposition in the photo, as the men walking along the road obviously cannot afford to "relax" and use the train, otherwise they would not be walking on the road. The men themselves are both carrying large bags which suggests that, due to their lack of wealth, they would be carrying all their possessions with them. In addition, the fact that the photo is entitled, 'Toward Los Angeles', implies the men are both heading to LA for a fresh start and to find work in the 'Golden State' of California. The 1930s saw a mass migration of farmers from 'Dust Bowl States' (e.g. Oklahoma and Arkansas) to California. By 1940, 250,000 had arrived. It is unclear in what line of work these men specialised, but due to their clothing and the year in which their photo was taken, it can be assumed that they may be agricultural workers.
With war on the horizon for the United States, this photo could highlight the negativity of the 1930s and the hopelessness that was rife throughout the nation (they weren't to know that the Second World War 1939-1945, would help the USA become the global super power that it is today). There is no sign of other people or towns or cities in the photo, suggesting the men still have a long way to go to reach 'Los Angeles'. The concept of distance could refer to the USA's struggle with tackling the dire demands of the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the subsequent hyperinflation and poverty. The remaining road ahead of the men, is where they (representing the USA) need to go. But it will be a long and uncertain journey, in order to reach their destination.
The photo also highlights the divisions of class in the United States during this period. The man depicted on the advertisement, is clearly middle class, as he is wearing a nice suit and looks less rugged than the working class men on the left. This suggests that there was a lack of action by the government to rectify the more pressing issues, such as unemployment, poverty and starvation in the US. The fact that there were adverts around aimed at the wealthier people, while there were men having to walk for miles in the hope of finding any sort of employment, suggests the system was somewhat backwards and didn't give working class/unemployed men the opportunities they so desperately needed.

References:
http://www.50states.com/bio/nickname1.htm
https://migration.ucdavis.edu/rmn/more.php?id=1355

Western America & Native Americans

When looking at this photo you are able to see the things connecting it to the West. We are able to see that when the American's first arrive, this can be used for settlements. Due to the large rocks/canyon like things, it would provide great cover. The downside of this would be that there is not that much agriculture due to the extreme heat. This would be an issue for them as they would not be able to survive.

The idea of this image being sublime can be seen from many different ways. One of them can be the raw beauty of the ways the Earth has shaped the land. We can see from the ways the rocks stand tall that during sunrise and sunset, it can create beautiful illusions. Due to where the location is, it is another reason to say that it's sublime.

Due to the size of this area, it would be great for settlers to live, the wide open land would be great for taming and looking after animals, this would work well for settlers due to native creatures.
The lack of water and scorching heat could prove to be very uneasy in regards to living. Settlements would be able to be constructed here but due to the heat and very little agriculture, living conditions would be seriously hard if not impossible.


American Indians

The reason in which I found this tribe unique is due to the way they have other allies. Giving the situations when the frontier was happening and they we're losing settlements, it was interesting to see that they did come together and form relations. The Cheyenne means 'Like Hearted People' and the tribe clearly lived up to its reputation. Both Cheyenne of Montana and Oklahoma speak the original Cheyenne language with some minor changes to the vocabulary based on locations. The CHeyennelanguagee happens to be tonal language.

The Cheyenne are a Native American nation of the Great Plains, they spread from southern Colorado to the Black Hills in South Dakota. Back in the 1800s, the tribe splits into two fractions: southern who stayed near the Platte Rivers and then we have the northern tribe near the Black Hills which is near the Lakota tribes.

The first Cheyenne territory was established in Northern Colorado. At the time, The Fort Laramie Treaty granted this territory. Today, we can see the remains of the former territory built up through other cities including Fort Collins, Denver, and Colorado Springs. Just after 1851 is when they lost their land due to the gold rush.

On the website, we can see the different types of images that portray the tribe. We can see just how they live and what they use to travel. We can see a map of where the two fractions are based and the outlying settlements surrounding them. We can see the flag that represents them and we can see the symbol that associates themselves with the tribe.
The website also gives a small insight into the different events that had happened in their time, for example - The Sandcreek Massacre which talks about how the Colorado Militia wiped out a helpless and undefended Cheyenne village. The website also goes on to talk about all the different battles they had and finally how they were gunned down while trying to flee.

Source:
http://keywordsuggest.org/gallery/650014.html
http://www.crystalinks.com/cheyenne.html

The American West and Perceptions of American Indians

The above image is a landscape done by German-born artist Albert Bierstadts, and to me, it reflects the two-sided nature of the colonisation of the American West. The strong light source seemingly coming down from the heavens suggests that the colonisation has an almost biblical significance to it, as if to say that God himself were behind the Americans who dared to journey out west. This symbolism can be linked to John Gast's 'American Progress' painting of 1867, with Lady Liberty appearing almost like an angel, sent to guide the shepherds of God (aka the American settlers) to new and greener pastures. The landscape itself also seems to invoke senses of being similar to the idea of the Garden of Eden, with plenty of trees, animals, green space and a large lake, which could be a perfect place for colonists to start a new life, free from the ties to the Old World. The light, seeing as it likely the Sun, is coming from the east too, symbolising the coming of the colonists from the original Thirteen States. Furthermore, the lake is being filled by a stream of water coming from the same direction that the light is coming from; one could infer from this that the lake is the American West, and the stream of water is representative of the colonists, slowly but surely trickling in and filling up the American West.
However, there is some negative imagery here as well, intentional or otherwise. There is a section of darkness heading towards the valley at the same pace at the light, suggesting that the colonists are an oncoming storm that will bring ruination to the valley, and the American West as a whole. This could be another biblical reference, for mankind, in the form of Adam and Eve, was banished from the Garden of Eden after tampering it by eating from the Forbidden Tree. Also, some of the trees appear bent back, and the entrance to the valley itself looks broken into, almost as if to say the colonists are forcing themselves upon the West, implying further that nothing good will come from the American colonisation of the West.

The Mojave Indians:


The Mojave Indians are a tribe of American Indians who settled primarily in the Mojave Desert, in the states of California and Nevada. The Mojave Indians were also known as the Pipa Aha Macav, or 'The People by the River', and over time, they grew to be experienced farmers, with trading networks and well-established towns going out almost as far as the Pacific Ocean. In the Mojave culture, the origins of the tribe can be traced back to the highest peak of the Newberry Mountains in what is now the Lake Mead National Recreation Area; this peak is known as the Spirit Mountain, and may have something to do with the origins of the tribe proper. It is said that the Mojave's spirit mentor, Mutavilya, created the Colorado River and its accompanying ecosystem of plants and animals, and subsequently taught the Mojave how to farm, prosper and look after the land, essentially teaching them the art of civilisation.
The website has a significant amount of history of the Mojave tribe, and even describes how the Mojave hold an annual celebration which allows members of tribes across the United States to celebrate their rich heritage, which shows that the Mojave are not afraid to show off their history, which in turn is part of the diverse history of an entire race. However, as with some other American Indian websites, it eventually, and in this case rapidly, devolved into promoting casinos, thus fulfilling the stereotype that surviving Indians in this day and age tend to run casinos and have gambling problems. This is a shame, as the Mojave seem to have a rich history, just like many other tribes of American Indians, but it cannot be helped, as the events that made the Indians what they are today have already come to pass.

http://www.renegadetribune.com/albert-bierstadts-lavish-landscapes-american-west/
http://mojaveindiantribe.com/about/

The American West and the Native Indians

Mormon Family, Great Salt Lake Valley.

This image shows the small house that many westerners lived in. This house is made of wood, showing that there was a forest nearby or some form of wood emough to create houses. Many places did not have wood and so settlers there would have had to use materials such as mud or clay to make houses. From this image it seems that this family is alone, due to the hills you can see the in background. 

Mormons were prosecuted a lot in the East as Mormons believed in polygamy, whic. h the rest of the Christian society believed as sinful. The execution of their founder, Joseph smith is 1844 led to the movement of most mormons to the west, mostly to the Great Salt Lake. Mormons moved to the Great Salt Lake as the Christian society hated Mormons, and Great Salt Lake was a place that no one wanted to live, as it was deemed hard to use for agriculture and so it wouldn't be sustainable to live there, as they could not grow crops for food and to sell. Around 16,000 made the journey to Great Salt Lake, although 700 were lost along the way due to illness. Due to fact that there is only one male and many females highlights the polygamy lifestyle that the mormons lived.

Sioux Indians:

The Sioux Indians came to America 30,000 years ago, and were known for their long blank hair, which showed their descent from Asia. This image shows that the Sioux Indians were not ones for settlement, as they lived on the plains they tended to travel where their food source was, which were buffaloes. Most of their belongings were made out buffalo, as this was usually their only source and so used everything the buffalo offered. ,The Spanish introduced horses to the Sioux in the 1500s, making their nomadic life easier as they were able to easily transport materials and themselves as well as being able to easily catch buffaloes. The Sioux fought the white men for the rights of their land during the 1800s. Most Sioux Indians today live in a reservation in South Dakota, there being 30,000 of them living there.

Sources:

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2015/11/scenes-from-the-american-west-150-years-ago/416787/

https://gcsehistory.wikispaces.com/Mormons
http://indians.org/articles/sioux-indians.html

The American West and Native Americans

American West

This image is a painting of Yellowstone national park and the surrounding mountainous areas in Idaho, Colorado, Nevada and Utah. It shows the idea of emptiness and wilderness in the West highlighting the natural beauty of the area. In the foreground we see some rocks and empty grasslands and a river. This can be seen to represent the availability of land and the vast space that is in the West. The West was not yet settled as much as the East and there was a lot of open land, much of which was set aside and kept empty for use as a national park, as was the case with Yellowstone. In the background is a mountain range and rock formations. These show the size a scale of mountains that could be found in the West, chiefly the rockies. It shows what the landscape looks like and the shear size of mountains that settlers would have to cross. Finally, to the right of the painting we can see a small cloud of smoke. This smoke is most likely from a campfire that belongs to a Native American tribe, most likely the Shoshone who lived in and around Yellowstone. The smoke represents the fact that there was human life and Native settlement in the area already before white settlers had got there. However, the fact that the smoke is off to the side and small suggests the view that Native life was rather insignificant and the so called ‘savages’ had no civilised way of life.

Navajo Nation

The Navajo are a Native American tribe that live predominantly in North-eastern Arizona as well as areas of New Mexico and Utah around the Four Corners region. The Navajo Nation website is the online home of the Navajo Nation government. The homepage acts as an information hub for the Navajo people. It provides news of what the Navajo government has accomplished and general Navajo news. It also advertises a number of events and services that are available to the people of the Navajo Tribe. The website also features pages with information on the Navajo Nation itself including pages on the government and different chapters within the Nation. The most notable page, however, is the history page. This page provides information on the history of the Navajo Nation. It provides a background to several aspects of the Navajo Nation such as the land itself, the government, the language, the flag and details of the Navajo Nation museum. It provides a view of Navajo culture through History and the importance that the Navajo played in American history as a whole, most notably the role they played in World War II and the Navajo code. Finally, the details given on the Navajo Nation government suggests that the people are represented within the tribe via their different chapters. The government listens to the views of the Navajo people and then work with the United States Federal Government, expressing the views and withes of the people.

Sources

http://www.amdigital.co.uk/m-products/product/american-west/ The Newberry Library Chicago

http://native-american-indian-facts.com/Great-Basin-American-Indian-Facts/Shoshone-Tribe-Facts.shtmlhttp://www.navajo-nsn.gov/ Navajo Nation

Image of the American West and the portrayal of a Native American Tribe

Image of the American West: Browns Park, Colorado.

This photograph is of Brown Park, a valley about 40 miles in length, located in Colorado. It was taken by Timothy O’Sullivan in 1872. According to some sources, the valley was most likely named after the French Canadian fur-trapper, Baptiste Brown, however it was originally known as Browns Hole. Later in 1869, explorer John Wesley Powell referred to the hole as Browns Park, and the name has remained since.[1]

In the context of the American West and the Indigenous peoples, during wintering Browns Park was popular with the Ute and Shoshoni tribes.[2] This was primarily because of the geographical landscape of the valley. The valley held mild winters, which had previously attracted native peoples.[3] Later, the landscape also proved popular with white men transporting their cattle herds in harsh weather conditions.[4] According to other sources, the area was also central for fur companies and tradesmen. In addition, most of this trade was surrounding Fort Davy Crockett, often referred to as the “social centre of the rocky mountains”.[5] It is estimated by some that trading at Browns Hole dates back as early as 1832.[6]Significant individuals that travelled here included Kit Carson, Joe Meek, Uncle Jack Robinson and Robert Newell.

When placing this in the ideology of the American West and manifest destiny, the image conveys a strong sense of opportunity. The big open spaces and endless land captured in the photograph, particularly acts as almost a utopian image of what it means to expand west. Having said this, there is also a sense of isolation surrounding the image. The remote setting is also a reminder of the hardship those who expanded westward faced. Moving from ‘civilised’ and settled territory, to the isolating and empty Westward land, may have been a great struggle for some.

In modern day, the Park has been used in various ways. Browns Park has become a wildlife Refuge, as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Established in 1965, the 12,150-acre refuge has acted as a conservation for endangered species.[7] It is also known for its scenic beauty and the wildlife opportunities available for visitors.[8]

In the modern-day image (right), there are still natural and original aspects of the Park. However, it is also important to identity the contemporary influence in the picture, where there are visitors rafting down the river. In February 2015 21,586 acres of land in Colorado was designated by President Barack Obama as the Browns Canyon National Monument.[9] This was part of an initiative to protect and preserve national and historic features. Since then, it has been used for recreational activities such as rafting and fishing.[10] The park has also kept any man-made features to a minimum. This includes having no developed camping sites and limited roads.[11]

Native American Tribe Website: The Cherokee Nation of Eastern Alabama.

In context, the Cherokee tribe was one of the most advanced American Indian tribes. They had their own written language, constitution, newspaper, and alphabet- appearing to be a republic rather than a regular tribe. Unfortunately, after the discovery of gold in Georgia, the tribe was gradually moved out of its homelands during the 1830s and the land was sold off.[12]  The famous ‘trail of tears’ originates from the forced removal of 15,000 Cherokee citizens, who were forced to march over 1,000 miles into Indian territory, away from their homelands.[13]

From a first glance, the appearance of their website is particularly striking. Although not using bright colours, the boarders consisting of native patterns and the repetitive use of the Earthy colours, gives the page a particularly native appearance.

In addition, their website is filled with campaigns and initiatives that are to help its citizens. For example, these include the Cherokee Nation Fish and Wildlife Association, their new $100 million healthcare initiative, and their improvements in education.[14] This portrays the tribe as a tightly knit community, where they not only looking to preserve wildlife, but also helping to maintain a standard of living for the tribal members.

When looking closer at the contents on their website, the Cherokee Nation is very appealing to tourists. The tribe have an additional link to a visitor and history website, which is informative about their tribal art, language and history and culture. They appear to be approachable and in line with the demanding contemporary demand for interactive tourist attractions. The Cherokee Nation also has a museum where tours can be booked and more can be learned about the tribe.

Sources:
http://www.cherokee.org/Home.aspx
http://visitcherokeenation.com/Pages/home.aspx
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2149899/The-American-West-youve-seen-Amazing-19th-century-pictures-landscape-chartered-time.html
http://www.flaminggorgecountry.com/Browns-Park
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Browns_Park/about.html
https://www.fs.fed.us/visit/browns-canyon-national-monument

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 [1] http://www.flaminggorgecountry.com/Browns-Park

[2] http://www.flaminggorgecountry.com/Browns-Park

[3] https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/blm/ut/7/chap1.htm

[4]https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/blm/ut/7/chap1.htm

[5] https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/blm/ut/7/chap1.htm

[6] https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/blm/ut/7/chap1.htm

[7] https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Browns_Park/about.html

[8] https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Browns_Park/about.html

[9] https://www.fs.fed.us/visit/browns-canyon-national-monument

[10] https://www.fs.fed.us/visit/browns-canyon-national-monument

[11] https://www.fs.fed.us/visit/browns-canyon-national-monument

[12] http://visitcherokeenation.com/Pages/home.aspx

[13] http://visitcherokeenation.com/Pages/home.aspx

[14] http://www.cherokee.org/Home.aspx

Image of the West and Link to a First Nation website

This is a photo that I took in Alberta, Canada, on the edge of Jasper National Park, which at it's most southern point is around 300km above the American/Canadian border. Alberta is a province in South Western Canada. It grows less flat and prairie-like, and more mountainous the further west one travels. This photo depicts the end of the prairies and the start of the mountainous region that is typical of the landscape of the 'American West', or in this case, the 'North American West'.
In the photo, the dramatic mountain resides in the distance, with the baron, predominantly 'earthy-looking' land lying before it. The 'sublime' aspect of the photo is the mountain, as it is the most visually stunning piece of scenery in the image. The inclusion of water and some woodland, along with the grey and brown 'earth', reflects the potential and nourishment that the western land provides and the hope that settlers would have felt when arriving in this type of area. This photo was taken in August 2013, so evidently any settlement, Native American (or 'First Nations' as referred to in Canada) or Colonial, no longer resides in the area in this photograph.
The importance of European settlement is evident here. Due to the sheer size of Canada and North America in general, the railways are often the quickest mode of transport available, in order to reach more specific locations within the country. A transcontinental railway was first proposed in 1871. However, it wasn't until June 1886 that the first passenger train left Montréal, arriving in Port Moody, British Columbia, on the 4th July (1). The introduction of this transcontinental railway and those that subsequently followed, was crucial to the unification of the country, which by 1881 had a population of 4,324,810 (2). It is likely that the exploration of the West using railways had an effect on the First Nations situated along the way. 

The Stoney Nakoda First Nations

When pondering which American Indian tribe on which to focus, I decided to do some research into the native people who inhabited the land where the photo was taken. The Stoney Nakoda tribe have traditionally inhabited Western Canada. On their website they proudly list the names by which they are known. These names include: Rocky Mountain Stoney, Warriors of the Rocks and Cutthroat Indians. The link to 'read more' about the Stoney Nakoda no longer works and the rest of the website, sadly, is mainly used as a medium to promote tourism in Western Canada. However, there is a link to a website that elaborates a bit more on the history and culture of the 'Rocky Mountain Nakoda' (3). It explains that the Nakoda originally lived further South, in what is now known as the state if Georgia, USA. But they migrated West and eventually North in the 1500s, settling in Alberta. This website is very informative and offers a lot of information regarding their language, culture and history. Everything is written as if it was written by a member of the tribe; there is a link to "our lands", as well as a page called "who we are". This highlights the Nakoda's acceptance of modern technology into their society. In addition, although there is a large section on the tribe's background, it doesn't dwell on any historical conflicts the tribe may have with modern day Canada or USA. The 'Rocky Mountain Nakoda' website is very open and inviting to all. The colour scheme of the website is very bright, with the use of white, blue and yellow a predominant theme, perhaps highlighting freedom, peace and enlightenment. When reading through this website, I felt welcomed and that the Nakoda genuinely want to share their history and culture with the rest of the World. This is a contradiction of historical context, where the North American Natives tended to only offer knowledge of their traditions and culture when first meeting colonial explorers and settlers. Here however, they are freely doing so. (It may also be that because they are nowadays technically living in Canada, that they are just nicer than American Indians living in the USA).


Strangely, on the 'Stoney Nation' website, they advertise their tribe's resort and casino in Banff (4). 'Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino' offer "rates from $109" and with regards to the casino, it states that you can "arrive a winner" and "leave a legend".  This could highlight contemporary divisions within the tribe. It is quite a contrast compared with the informative 'Rocky Mountain Nakoda' website previously discussed. This website is aimed at white middle class people and probably families, who want a vacation. The Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino is an example of American Indian establishments that have become increasingly popular in North America, the United States in particular. In the USA, the 'Indian Gaming Regulatory Act' was passed in 1988, which paved the way for the American Indian gaming industry to thrive and contributes significantly to American Indian tribes' economy (5). This has since spread to the rest of North America, as the Natives have found a source of income that does not damage what remains of their land, and is extremely lucrative.

This summarises the contemporary culture of the Stoney Nakoda tribe and their influence on today's society in North America.


References:
http://www.ezilon.com/maps/north-america/canada-maps.html
http://www.stoneynation.com/
(1) http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/railway-history/
(2) http://www65.statcan.gc.ca/acyb07/acyb07_0004-eng.htm 
(3) http://www.rockymountainnakoda.com/origin
(4) http://www.stoneynakodaresort.com/
(5) Randall K. Q. Akee, Katherine A. Spilde and Jonathan B. Taylor, 'The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and Its Effects on American Indian Economic Development', The Journal of Economic Perspectives, (29, 2015), p.185.

Little House on the Prairie: Attitudes Towards American Indians

Little House on the Prairie: Attitudes Towards American Indians

Context of the book:

The ‘Little House on the Prairie’ is part of the six book series that conveys the Westward movements of the Wilder family. This book in particular looks at the Wilder family’s illegal settlement in Kansas. When looking closer at the reoccurring themes in the novel, the American ideas of Westward expansion and manifest destiny are crucial to understanding the text.

Throughout the collection, the experiences are based on the accounts of the family, as Laura Ingalls Wilder was too young to remember most. Not only is this book a useful text for understanding the everyday life of settlers in the American West, but it is also insightful into the attitudes towards American Indians. Although sometimes seen as subtle, Wilder’s presentation of the views of American Indians is controversial to this day. As Staff Writer Laura June suggested, it was through reading the book aloud that enabled her to grasp the book differently, and recognise the attitude towards American Indians more clearly than reading in isolation.[1] What may have originally appeared as an innocent book for younger readers, quickly found itself under critical analysis in recent years.

The Chapter of analysis:

My chosen chapter of analysis is ‘Chapter 17: Pa Goes to Town’. This is primarily because of the extreme views of American Indians.

Mrs Scott conveys very negative views about the American Indians in this chapter. She suggests that ‘they’d never do anything with this country themselves’ and that ‘all they do is roam around over it like wild animals’. The reoccurring idea that the American Indians are savages and are somewhat subhuman to the white settlers is a reoccurring theme in this book. The animalistic movements of the Indians roaming like ‘wild animals’ presents them as dangerous, uneducated and offensive. It also appears that claiming the Indians will ‘never do anything’ with this land acts as a justification for the continuous movement west and taking of American Indian lands. Furthermore, it is also ironic that according to Mrs Scott, justice is where the land ‘belongs’ to the white settlers. The dramatic irony here is that by seeking what she thinks is justice, she is therefore taking the land from others who were in fact there before.

Building on this, as the chapter progresses, the attitudes towards the American Indians worsened. Perhaps one of the most famous lines in the book is ‘the only good Indian was a dead Indian’. The short, emphatic sentence really adds emphasis on the deadly meaning of the sentence. It conveys not only the deep-rooted racism at the time, but it also suggests that tensions will potentially escalate later in the book. This is continued by ‘the very thought of Indians made her blood run cold’. This reinforces even further the hatred that the settlers had for the Indians. It also continues the deathly imagery with blood running cold.

Placing this chapter within the rest of the novel:

Putting this into perspective, racism towards the Native-Americans has been present throughout this book. Ma’s racism towards the Indians was well established as early as Chapter 4, where she suggests ‘Whatever makes you want to see Indians? We will see enough of them. More than we want to.[2] The language here suggest that Ma is bitter about leaving their home and moving West. Wilder also uses the inclusive personal pronoun ‘we’ repeatedly when Ma is speaking. This could perhaps be a device used to generalise Ma’s views, to represent the attitude of some settlers, or to reinforce her influence, as a parent, over her daughters’ opinions. Overall, Ma’s prejudice attitude reveal more of her character, as well as introducing the reader to settler-native racial tension at the time.

Philip Heldrich suggests in his article, that Ma’s judgemental perception of the Indians also shaped her daughters’ observations of them as well. Heldrich highlighted the importance of how the girls perceived the Indians to have an animalistic nature. This was seen through their observations of their ‘bold and fierce’ faces, their ‘black eyes’, and their voices being ‘harsh sounds’ (138-140).[3] The collective use of dark colours and bold features suggest the Indians have a harsh and fearful appearance to settlers. This was reinforced by Ma’s reaction, where she ‘trembled’ and ‘looked sick’ at the sight of the Indians.[4] For many settlers, Indians were almost mythological, and they were therefore usually bewildered by their presence. Not only did this point in the novel create a sense of foreboding, but the ‘animalesque’ portrayal of the Indians still proves controversial to this day.

Heldrich also highlights how the daughters become ‘torn’ between the influence of Ma’s racism towards the Indians and their father’s more ‘developing attitude’.[5] While Ma’s attitude has influenced Laura’s observations of the American Indians to an extent, such as commenting on their ‘smell’ and ‘snake’s eyes’, Wilder also presents the logical thinking of Pa.[6] After Laura had played hide and seek with the Indians, Pa was more understanding and instead reminded the family that they should remain on ‘good terms with the Indians’.[7] Both Pa and Ma can represent the views of different settlers, with both taking two different approaches in the novel. It is Laura who is trying to establish her own views amongst the influence of her family, and the context of the time.

In summary, this book conveys a lot about the attitudes towards American Indians at the time. While there was only one chapter to highlight in the book, I thought it was important to see how the views presented in Chapter 17 fitted in with those seen throughout the book. Overall, the attitude towards the American Indians is not very positive, and whilst some characters may present more forward thinking in the book, this can be outweighed by the underlying racism at the time.

Sources:

'Little House on the Prairie' by Laura Ingalls Wilder

https://theawl.com/no-offense-to-laura-ingalls-wilder-4aa9e20e8755#.d173mr5h0

http://www.jstor.org/stable/23532729?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

http://littlehouseontheprairie.com/historical-perspective-or-racism-in-little-house-on-the-prairie/

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[1] https://theawl.com/no-offense-to-laura-ingalls-wilder-4aa9e20e8755#.d173mr5h0

[2] Laura Ingalls Wilder, ‘Little House on the Prairie’ (2014, London), p.35.

[3] Philip Heldrich article page 5.

[4] Heldrich article p.5.

[5] Heldrich article p.9.

[6] Heldrich article p.9.

[7] Heldrich article p.9.