Native American Fashion Conflicts

             Wearing native American headdresses are a symbol of bravery, and shows all of their accomplishments. In 2012, during the Victoria Secret fashion show, they portrayed in the Indian lifestyle in a way of not wearing many garments, and making a mockery of the Indian’s culture. On NationalTurk.com, they interviewed a Navaho Indian,”We have gone through the atrocities to survive and ensure our way of life continues,” Navajo Indian Nation spokesman Erny Zah stated in an interview after weekend. “Any mockery, whether it’s Halloween, Victoria’s Secret – they are spitting on us. They are spitting on our culture, and it’s upsetting.” They believe that the models are disrespecting them, and that people should learn about Native American culture before releasing these products. Urban outfitters were also accused of this when they released an underwear and flask line of the Navaho brand. This shows and tells people who don’t know anything about Native American’s that they are derogatory and maybe even alcoholics. Ralph Lauren created an ad that previewed the cultural affiliations of a native Americans. He has repeatedly added the type things of dark skin, and always holding a gun. Ralph Lauren thinks of the Native American's as an influence in history, while also being an inspiration through their culture. Everyone is trying to make a brand out of Native American type things, but are always abusing them. The Indians are still a culture and still exist. To make a mockery of them like this is extremely disrespectful even though they do not know how big of an impact it makes.

Native American

Victoria Secret Controversy 

Cultural Caricatures

Ralph Lauren Native American Ad 

Film Essay

Karen Carter

The effect of movies in United States history is greatly required to visual learners as well as the analytical approach to events that have occurred throughout the civil war. As I walk into this mid sized 11th grade history class, I am surrounded by the real circumstances that the United States as a whole has had to face. Many don’t realize, that to have a firm understand of the Civil War and slavery in the United States, you must have a visual understanding of many events such as the award winning movies 12 Years a Slave and Glory. A rational aspect of understanding these two movies as a whole is almost as an equation. You must have a plot times the sum of understanding to two parts historical accuracy and very believable actors. This equation will create a critical argument that will leave you with an analytical understanding. They are each shown through two very different lenses, and two very different aspects of plot, but all come together as one meaning in the end: cruel and harsh slavery existed. 

12 Years a Slave is based off of a very successful nonfiction book written by Solomon Northup in 1852. It portrays everything a freed slave would work for, but when two, never brought to justice, kidnappers decide to sell him to make a profit without even giving him the chance to prove he is a freed slave. He is imprisoned in this injustice for twelve years, being whipped, trying to get in touch with him family, and very intelligently covering up his education. I find this movie is based upon the inevitable choice of hunger verses shame. Fighting starvation, but also feeling ashamed of not being back home with his family. Solomon Northrup states, “This is no fiction, no exaggeration. If I have failed in anything, it has been in presenting to the reader too prominently the bright side of the picture.” His point was that their is no bright side of the picture, he was having no say in anything that was said and done about his life. It was all left to rot in his “masters” hands. The director of the movie, Steve McQueen, wanted to make this movie a movie of “truth on screen,” with many climaxes that give the “erection of the book,” an absolute perfect picture of Solomon's life. He relates many points throughout the movie as “little gifts” and smalls rewards in life. The New York times reviews this movie as “the one that finally makes it impossible for American cinema to continue to sell the ugly lies it’s been hawking for more than a century.” With very high historical accuracy and evidence, it flourished with “breakaway hit status. 

The movie Glory is based upon the actual life of black soldiers in the 54th Massachusetts led by a white leader, Colonel Shaw, treats the soldiers empathetically to try and prepare them for what is to come. For example, during the raid on Fort Wagner, we see ravish between the turing points, and where the movie reaches it’s absolute peak. Fort Wagner is shown thoroughly within hand-to-hand combat previewing savagery, ruthlessness, and the barbaric state that the civil war was known for. The same amounts of soldiers were killed and injured in great scope or range at large. They were acclimatized and led into a line of fire easily, and proudly. It not only shows a large amount of historical accuracy, James Bergardinelli shows gratitude towards it as “one of the best movies ever made about the American Civil War.” It shows many different points of view and a sense of symmetry through many different chains of command, that I believe make this movie fantastic evidence of the 54th Massachusetts during the Civil War. The New York Times believes that the movie is more about the outlook and the historical occasion, than the stories of the character. The opening day ticket sales were very low, only $63,661 while it cost around $18 million to make. It won many awards through the Hollywood Foreign Press Association including Denzel Washington’s best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a motion picture. 

Therefore, with the aspects of historical accuracy, the film makers wanting to create an understanding of history, and fantastic actors, our equation is finally balanced. I learned many values of understanding the Civil War and Slavery. I saw many real circumstances, and critically opened my mind to explore the aspects of United States History. I believe that you can develop and learn many things through watching movies as long as historical accuracy is portrayed, and they have many supporting examples of evidence.

Slave Being Beaten

Sources, Film Research - Glory & 12 Years a Slave

Glory (1989)

Glory (1989) New York Times

Glory (1989) Review/Film; Black Combat Bravery in the Civil War, New York Times

Glory, IMDb

Glory (United States, 1989), Reelviews Movie Review

12 Years a Slave

12 Years a Slave, IMDb

The surprising success of "12 Years a Slave", CBS News

12 YEARS A SLAVE (2013)

'12 Years a Slave' Director, Filmmakers: Movie Is 'Unresolved History, The Moviefone Blog  

Practicing Incorporating a Quotation

The following excerpt is from the NYT's Movie "Glory" Review 

"The attack on Fort Wagner, which is the climax of the movie, comes as close to anything I've ever seen on screen to capturing the chaos and brutality that were particular to the Civil War battles."

In the New York Times review, Vincent Canby believes that Glory "comes as close to anything I've ever seen on screen to capturing the chaos and brutality that were particular to the Civil War battles." 

The process of paraphrasing is putting a quote into your own words showing that you completely understand the quote. When the quote can not be said any better you can put it in "quotes" so that the sentence can flow and be accurate, but giving the author the credit about his argument and his opinion. 

This is what Mrs. Lawson wanted me to learn today:

• Only use a quote when it adds power and style to my writing.
• Always make it clear, from context, that I understand the full meaning of the quote.
• Whether I quote or paraphrase, always be transparent about the source and how I'm using it.
• If I use another  author's exact words or phrases, to any extent, I have to use quotation marks and give credit.
• If I use another's author's presentation of facts or ideas, but put their ideas in my own words, I better have a good reason for doing that, and I MUST give credit.
• Hyperlinking is so easy, there is no excuse for not being transparent about my sources.

I really understand these things. 

Paraphrase Practice

"The attack on Fort Wagner, which is the climax of the movie, comes as close to anything I've ever seen on screen to capturing the chaos and brutality that were particular to the Civil War battles. Weapons maimed as often as they killed. Soldiers were so disciplined that they marched in firm lines into the sights of guns fired at point-blank range." 
This excerpt is from the NYT's movie "Glory" review 

         During the raid on Fort Wagner, we see ravish between the turning points, and where the movie reaches it's absolute peak. Fort Wagner is shown deeply within hand to hand combat previewing savagery, ruthlessness, and the barbaric state that the Civil War was known for. The same amounts of soldiers were killed and injured in great scope or range and at large. They were acclimatized and led into a line of fire easily, and proudly.

During the invasion on Fort Wagner, the actions takes into custody about "the chaos and brutality" that had originality during the Civil War. I believe it is in proximity of historical accuracy paralleled in the Civil War. 

Sympathy vs. Empathy

          Through the feelings of others, empathy is the intellectual action and vicarious experience of the thoughts and attitudes of another. Empathy differs from sympathy through opposing the sympathetic diction of full pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune. From Choices Under Fire written by Dr. Bess, many examples of empathy are previewed into the surreal actions and requirements of the study of "disruptive empathy." During the experiment, of giving high voltages of electrical shocks, 60% of subjects went through the entire experiment of death level energy even though the "student" was acting. The thought of many of these subjects following through just because the leader told them to "continue" is a prime example of empathy. An electrician was soon in the position, and because he knew how bad the shocks would've hurt them, he did not continue with the experiment. This parallels to the key skill of knowing how to empathize to be able to make since of the past. You may not have the true experience of some of the scenarios, but you will be linear with all of the decisions, and the decision making process.

     
                                                              Studies from Emory