This is the course blog for WRIT 1133, section 9, a first-year writing course at the University of Denver that focuses on rhetoric, research, and the cultures, histories, and geographies of the North American West.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Summary (or Description) of Your Primary Text
Before class on Wednesday, please post (here as a comment) a 250 word summary (or description) of the primary text that you'll be using for our current assignment.
To help understand the family life and childhood of those living in the American West, I will look to the popular children’s novels, “Little House on the Prairie” by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The series speaks of life on the frontier, much in how it related to the lives of one particular family. I am interested to find out about family roles and what is expected of children as far as chores and schoolwork. The “Little House on the Prairie” books tell a great deal about life on the frontier through the author’s own reflections of her life in the West. To aid in understanding her perspectives I will use the book “Laura Ingalls Wilder and The American Frontier”, which reflects on how Wilder’s books give an interpretation of life on the frontier. The perspectives in this book speak of the accuracy of Wilder’s books through multiple essays written by scholars. Included within the text are the opinions of five scholars who are working to understand the work of Laura Ingalls Wilder and what the American frontier means to her. The book covers topics such as “The Frontier of the Little House” and “The Little House Books in American Culture”. These portions of the book will help to reveal Wilder’s view of the West and how she saw American culture at this time. I believe this book will aid me in getting an accurate account of the frontier through a children’s novel.
This essay, “Race and Lynching in the American West in the Early Twentieth Century” by Michael Pfeifer, starts off by describing a scene that graphically depicts the hatred and violence toward blacks in Wyoming. A black man at a restaurant was ejected from the restaurant for failing to show proper deference to a white woman, sent to jail, and then dragged out to be hanged by a group of white men, all because he called a white waitress “a liar” for not having his food. As a result of this incident, all the blacks in the area were ordered to leave town, most of which were not even allowed the opportunity to gather their belongings. A similar historical event reinforces the reality of racial inequality in the West. A Chinese man had been angered by a message delivered to him from a white woman. Because of this he slashed words into her face and slashed 2 others in the room. When white male lumberjacks heard of this, they went out to get him. They knocked him unconscious and took him to be hanged. Even though a reward was offered for the capture of those who hanged him, everyone claimed to “know absolutely nothing.” These stories are just two examples of what were racially motivated lynchings in the West. However, lynchings were not always based on race. In fact, the roots of such murderous activity are found in the attitudes and culture of the West. A number of factors including the inadequacy of law enforcement and courts and the rise of the vigilantes contributed to this violence. However, often overlooked is the role that race played in these situations.
I have decided to use the primary text written by a Native American girl in the early 1900's. For my assignment I am interested in the oppressed history of the original citizens of this nation: North American Indians. I am interested in finding more about their history, and the struggles they endured as European settlers began taking over and stealing away the beauty and land they loved. Many accounts, such as our reading for today explain the brutality of American conquests; the ways in which women and children were viciously killed. What is this contradiction of savage and savage. What was the personal experience felt by those who were being treated worse than animals. In order to this I want to look at some direct accounts and experiential evidence. Primarily, texts of Zitkala-Sa are intriguing. The first part of her career was dedicated to autobiographical writings, which will show the emotions and individual struggles Native Americans, particularly women, were facing during this time. The second part of her career was dedicated to political writings. This will be interesting in looking a broader context for the atrocious acts against the Native American people. I will be specifically using "The School Days of an Indian Girl" which relates the struggles of Native Americans to assimilate into the white world as they conquered.
The topic I decided to do for this project about the “American West,” was about the gender violent and discrimination on all women during the time of 1847 through 1939. The primary source of my topic is a book call, “Relations of Rescue: The Search for Female Moral Authority in the American West.” This book tells about many different storied about women dealing abuse and discrimination during the Victorian Time and even stories of women with different nationality and their experiences during this time. Also, this book not only tells about the problems during the time of the “American West” but it also tells how these women made mission centers to protect themselves. What I have read so far that was the most interesting stories that have caught my eyes were about how a Chinese man sent his wife to the United States to sell her for prostitution to make some money. From this portion of the book, my secondary sources would be the book, “The American West, The Gendered West.” This book will help me see the culture that the “American West” and how they portray their women showing their mindset on how these women show act, work, and learn. Also, how abuse on these women play a part during this time. Also, while doing my research, I am going to use some of the sources and books that the Author mentions in her book, “Relations of Rescue” to get a more sense of this subject of find a better primary source that deals with women violent during the 1800’s and see how that effects what was happening during important events in the United States.
For my analysis, I plan on looking at a painting by Charles Deas titled "Long Jakes, The Rocky Mountain Man". It is described on their website as “The Crown Jewel” of the institute and “the single most influential image in Rocky Mountain iconography”. The painting itself shows a rugged, red-faced man with wild hair and gaudy, but functional clothes, sitting in horseback in a western setting, looking back in his saddle. It is basically a portrait of sorts of the standard Mountain Man, a sort of hero of the American West who explored the frontier and lived a generally solitary lifestyle. He has very few possessions; all of which can be fitted on his horse where he sits with his rifle in hand. I plan on analyzing this painting as a piece of representative art as well as drawing parallels to traditional, propagandistic portraits of heroes on horseback, such as Napoleon Crossing the Alps or any of Reuben’s many works. I will use these parallels, as well as research on mountain men themselves, to try and figure out for what purpose this was painted, and if something was trying to be promoted, what was it, and how was that accomplished? Mostly I will be looking at what the mountain man meant as an identity and as inspiration for the settlement of the American frontier, and I will be looking at the design and rhetorical choices made in this painting and at how it best presents its own argument.
The Indian Student Amid American Inconsistencies – Vine Deloria Jr.
Vine Deloria Jr. starts his essay by criticizing the American education system and society in general. He rejects the idea that education is the basis for democracy. The main point of his argument is that education for Native Americans is simply to educate them on the ideals and laws of the white man and make them understand the superiority of him. He then agues the Native Americans were forced into the white man’s Americanization of the country. In other words, white men forced all people of all races to adhere to their set of beliefs and their way of life. Forcing people to respect their laws would lead to the equality that America is based on. Further along, Deloria claims “At best, Indian education is an ill-conceived version of the worst of Protestant theological generalities cherished by conservative America”. (19). He believes we must constantly try to “motive” the Indian child and experiment with their education in order to make them see the way things should be, or as he says by making him do something you want him to do rather then get him interested in something he wants to do. Generally, he says that the whole motive for American Indian education was to make them see how the white man does things and figure out ways to make them more similar to their white counterparts. The author concludes his writing by stating that we need change in the education process for Native Americans and gives examples of how we can achieve this.
The Way West: True Stories of the American Frontier This is a great primary source to use for the upcoming second assignment. The book carries single stories about western events that help shape and tell the story of the American West. I found two or three stories that look like something I want to expand on into more research, but it gives the general story and people involved in with a small biography. The stories I’m interested in researching include Murder Most Foul: A new Mexico Cause Celebre , Maud- Kidnapped by Pancho Villa, Muggins Taylor: The Man and the Myth, and lastly Did Lambe Lead Mary to Slaughter?. These stories are all kind of mysteries and describe homicides or murders of the west which I think is interesting in general. I’m really glad I could find something I’m interested in now-a-days and relay it back to the time of the American Frontier. I think it will be interesting to see if murders and mysteries are alike or very different from the kinds that occur today. After reading a couple of the articles/stories I’m interested in I got a lot of information pertaining to each which I can branch out from. Along with details of the events a character biography is included as to why they were significant in the west. For example, I read Did Lambe Lead Mary to Slaughter? and it gave a detailed account of the murder and the trials behind the case. I’ll most likely end up using this text from the book although I have yet to read the others.
I went on to ProQuest and actually found an old biography on David Crockett. The article was published on May 28, 1831. It states that Crockett was an independent man who, over time opened a path of trade, adventure and reward through the Tennessee trade. Because Crockett exemplified “prudence and generosity,” he gain trust and support from those around him. When the wagoner withdrew to a farm, he soon formed great relationships with neighbors and was elected to the house of assembly. However, his appearance (rough, manners, and habits) gave him a notorious reputation. Crockett’s election to Congress seemed to be planned by one member who wanted to use Crockett to defeat his rival. Once Crockett saw through this plan, he chose to become a “bona fide candidate.” Although he lost the election, he never lost his popularity and reputation. The article then describes a scene in which the audience can grasp Crockett’s importance back then. I have not discovered any old articles to contrast to the Disney version of David Crockett’s life, however, I will probably use this little biography in my piece.
I have decided to write my paper on the chaotic life of the notorious Jesse James. Jesse James was from the West, Kearny Missouri. Jesse James led a long life of crime and chose when he was younger to join a rebellious squad. James truly was a legendary figure of the Wild West. Him and his fellow partners in crime robbed banks and trains, committed murders, and lived through the history, geography, people, lore, and culture of the true Wild West. He was an advocate in the expansion west, also referred to as Manifest Destiny. I was thinking of incorporating the first article written by John L. O’Sullivan outlining the focus of the Manifest Destiny. I was thinking of perhaps relating the life of Jesse James to a more modern day criminal of the West using various articles and books as resources. The books I have checked out from the library are Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Century, The Life, Times, and Treacherous Death of James, and The Assassination of Jesse James. These three books give detailed accounts of the various situations Jesse found himself in, as well as more background on his history and how he came to be a criminal. One of them specifically focuses on his assassination by Robert Ford. I will look further into his assassination and how it played out during the times of the 19th century Wild West.
John Muir was first immersed into nature when he was a little kid. He loved nature and fell in love with the Alaskan wilderness in 1879 when he first traveled to Alaska because of his interest in glaciers he got from being in the high sierra. John Muir said that “I am hopelessly and forever a mountaineer… Civilization and fever, and all the morbidness that has hooted at me, have not dimmed my glacial eyes, and I care to live only to entice people to look at Nature’s loveliness.” John Muir has been to Alaska multiple times and returned to Alaska in 1880 and 1890. He was writing his book Travels in Alaska when he died in 1914 and sadly was not able to finish the book. Travels in Alaska tells the story about John Muir’s exploration of Alaska and his encounters with the beauty of the nature and the native people of Alaska. In this writing he talks about how he would just pick a spot and observe nature. This would include just sitting back and writing about nature or sketching nature’s beauty. His dedication is exemplified in the writing by talking about how he would get up before anyone else in the camp and skip breakfast in order to get an early start every day in his exploration of Alaska. The text seems to be written for the everyday person to read and promote one to get out in nature and experience it.
I looked at the pamphlet “The True Life of Billy the Kid”. This pamphlet was written by Don Jenardo. I think that it is a primary source about Billy the Kid, but I am not one hundred percent sure. This article speaks about Billy the Kids life from his first murder, to him being an officier and going around verses the officers and others that crossed his path. My favorite part of this pamphlet was the first chapter about his first murder. Billy the Kid went to Arizona where he fell in love with Quiseta, a beautiful mexican woman. Yet, Quiseta was in love with Frank Douglass and they were engaged. So the day of the wedding Billy asked Frank if he wanted to go hunting and Frank went. As, Frank drank is water Billy shot and killed him. Billy fleed and was not caught. I believe that I want to explore all of his known murders for my paper. I think it would be interesting to compare each murder and see the similarities and differences. Also, I think it would be interesting to see how Billy impacted the west through being an outlaw, and murderer. I want to look at where Billy the Kid was seen and what western states was he mostly in. Why he would be there and why he was killing. Therefore, I want to use newpaper articles maybe about the accounts. Also, I want to look at when Billy turned from a murderer to just an outlaw of the west.
http://faculty.smu.edu/sweisenb/CatlinPgeon%27sEgg.jpg I have decided to use a painting by George Catlin that was done in 1835. It shows a Native American chief standing in a cityscape and on the other side, there is an American General standing in a Native American village. I would like to use this painting for my assignment because there are several conflicting aspects that would make for interesting interpretation. I would like to find out, based on this painting, how the public eye viewed westward expansion at the time. I would also like to do further research on George Catlin, hopefully to get a full understanding of his painting and what inspired him to create it. I believe that art is a very important aspect of our history, and when analyzing the rhetoric of the American West, it’s important to consider visual depictions of events, not simply articles and letters. There is so much to be learned through art, and historical pieces like “Pigeon’s Egg” by George Catlin are extremely helpful when trying to visualize historical events. It is equally important to question the effects of westward expansion, while allowing oneself to learn more about modern times through the understanding of history. “Pigeon’s Egg” is a captivating painting in that it addresses several key subjects of westward expansion, like the unique relationship between a Native American and his land, the cold and brutal relationship between early settlers and Native Americans, and the complete disregard for Native American lifestyles and traditions. Several arguments can be made when viewing this painting, so I believe it will make for a good rhetorical analysis.
In the text "Aaron Copland and his World" by Carol Oja and Judith Tick, these two women of Modern music explore Copland's impact on the twentieth century. The book has seven sections, ranging from an autobiographical scan of his life, political involvement, his impact on culture, and his relationship to the American public. The introduction goes to great lengths to show Copland as a composer who was not merely a self-absorbed writer of music, but rather a musical citizen who was socially active with concern of impacting the public with his work. Opening with a quote of Kierkegaard, which states that Life must be understood backwards and lived forwards, the author's go on to say that Copland's legacy is right in between these grounds; standing between memory and history. Much discussion is given to the notion of Copland being an "American" composer. Dual viewpoints are given as Martin Brody treats the term philosophically, stating that Copland used this aesthetic as a focal point throughout his compositional life, while Anthony Berger's thought is that "Copland didn't care about such abstract things as professional philosophical aesthetics" (xix, Oja, Tick). A concluding essay appears as Copland's personality as a musical leader is examined at length when his music is studied next to Mahler, Ives, Bartok, and Thomson. The book's coda states that while Copland will first be remembered as an "American" composer - his music transcends national borders.
Daniel Inouye’s speech titled “From Expiration to Emancipation” was a keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois in 1968. It was addressed following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. His address criticized Americans who revolted with violence and through his rhetoric, called upon Americans to unite for a better tomorrow. Inouye’s speech first introduced to his audience that “This is my country,” he also stated to the people that, “This is our country.” He was attempting to unify a divided nation brought on by racism and the lack of civil rights especially for African-Americans. He also speaks of the growing Anarchy which has infected “our cities”. Daniel Inouye mentions the Vietnam War and how it is immoral, how all wars are immoral. In his statement of immoral wars, he hoped that his four-year-old son will have learned to live by the Ten Commandments when he is grown. As to not forget the rest of the world, he includes that places like Berlin, Paris, and China are also have an outbreak in riots from young people. This is where he mentions lack of civil rights to Black people or African-Americans are intolerable. He states his own ethos by claiming himself as, “An American whose ancestors came from Japan,” When asked, “why can’t the Negro be like you?” He responded with, “First, although my skin is colored, it is not black. In this country, the color of my skin does not ignite the prejudice that has smoldered for generations.” He states three more facts of why his outcry is very different from the African-American movement. The second being although his grandfather came here in poverty, he came as a free man. Also, Inouye states that his family was not separated or sold off like the African-Americans. Finally, he states that although in World War II his family was interned, he was never forced to live in the ghettos. In closing, he reveals that numerous more accounts of injustice have happened to African-Americans, from being taxed more on goods to knowing that the mortality rate of an African-American man’s children are twice the rate of white children. He states that as citizens, we have lost “our faith in our country, in its purposes and its institutions.” Inouye states that we must not lose sight of our future and generations to come. Inouye believes that the only way our society can change is for Americans to stop the violence and act out/protest peacefully against injustice. He stands with African-Americans in the sense that he was not stand for injustice. He concludes his speech with stating the true meaning of Aloha which is, “I love you,” stating, “to all of you, my fellow Americans, aloha.”
What comes to mind when one thinks of Davy Crockett? Maybe his silly hat, or his pioneer attitude, or possibly even his very own theme song made famous by Disney. In May of 1955, Disney released its feature film Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier. The following summer, the big screen adventure of Davy Crockett And the River Pirates came out. Both movies tell the tales of the “folk hero” Crockett. Disney depicts the determined character pulling stunts such as “grinning down a bear,” wrestling with an alligator, and fighting in the historical Alamo. The movies encourage the audience to be hardheaded as Crockett was, and reach for their goals. During the migration of American to the West, ideals like this were mainstream. Everyone had the freedom and ability to make their own choices and live the lifestyle of the West. Davy Crockett serves as a perfect representation of the American ideals that stand strong today. Disney has been known for incorporating optimistic morals into their movies because most are watched by children. Through movies like The Little Mermaid and The Lion King, Disney conveys to youngsters to be individuals and take charge of their lives. Crockett takes down the Indians and fights for the land of the West. And, however controversial the authenticity of the historical aspects in the film, Davy Crockett (King of the Wild Frontier/And the River Pirates) symbolizes the present take on Americans’ migration to this new, exciting land.
To help understand the family life and childhood of those living in the American West, I will look to the popular children’s novels, “Little House on the Prairie” by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The series speaks of life on the frontier, much in how it related to the lives of one particular family. I am interested to find out about family roles and what is expected of children as far as chores and schoolwork. The “Little House on the Prairie” books tell a great deal about life on the frontier through the author’s own reflections of her life in the West. To aid in understanding her perspectives I will use the book “Laura Ingalls Wilder and The American Frontier”, which reflects on how Wilder’s books give an interpretation of life on the frontier. The perspectives in this book speak of the accuracy of Wilder’s books through multiple essays written by scholars. Included within the text are the opinions of five scholars who are working to understand the work of Laura Ingalls Wilder and what the American frontier means to her. The book covers topics such as “The Frontier of the Little House” and “The Little House Books in American Culture”. These portions of the book will help to reveal Wilder’s view of the West and how she saw American culture at this time. I believe this book will aid me in getting an accurate account of the frontier through a children’s novel.
ReplyDeleteThis essay, “Race and Lynching in the American West in the Early Twentieth Century” by Michael Pfeifer, starts off by describing a scene that graphically depicts the hatred and violence toward blacks in Wyoming. A black man at a restaurant was ejected from the restaurant for failing to show proper deference to a white woman, sent to jail, and then dragged out to be hanged by a group of white men, all because he called a white waitress “a liar” for not having his food. As a result of this incident, all the blacks in the area were ordered to leave town, most of which were not even allowed the opportunity to gather their belongings.
ReplyDeleteA similar historical event reinforces the reality of racial inequality in the West. A Chinese man had been angered by a message delivered to him from a white woman. Because of this he slashed words into her face and slashed 2 others in the room. When white male lumberjacks heard of this, they went out to get him. They knocked him unconscious and took him to be hanged. Even though a reward was offered for the capture of those who hanged him, everyone claimed to “know absolutely nothing.”
These stories are just two examples of what were racially motivated lynchings in the West. However, lynchings were not always based on race. In fact, the roots of such murderous activity are found in the attitudes and culture of the West. A number of factors including the inadequacy of law enforcement and courts and the rise of the vigilantes contributed to this violence. However, often overlooked is the role that race played in these situations.
I have decided to use the primary text written by a Native American girl in the early 1900's. For my assignment I am interested in the oppressed history of the original citizens of this nation: North American Indians. I am interested in finding more about their history, and the struggles they endured as European settlers began taking over and stealing away the beauty and land they loved. Many accounts, such as our reading for today explain the brutality of American conquests; the ways in which women and children were viciously killed. What is this contradiction of savage and savage. What was the personal experience felt by those who were being treated worse than animals. In order to this I want to look at some direct accounts and experiential evidence. Primarily, texts of Zitkala-Sa are intriguing. The first part of her career was dedicated to autobiographical writings, which will show the emotions and individual struggles Native Americans, particularly women, were facing during this time. The second part of her career was dedicated to political writings. This will be interesting in looking a broader context for the atrocious acts against the Native American people. I will be specifically using "The School Days of an Indian Girl" which relates the struggles of Native Americans to assimilate into the white world as they conquered.
ReplyDeleteThe topic I decided to do for this project about the “American West,” was about the gender violent and discrimination on all women during the time of 1847 through 1939. The primary source of my topic is a book call, “Relations of Rescue: The Search for Female Moral Authority in the American West.” This book tells about many different storied about women dealing abuse and discrimination during the Victorian Time and even stories of women with different nationality and their experiences during this time. Also, this book not only tells about the problems during the time of the “American West” but it also tells how these women made mission centers to protect themselves. What I have read so far that was the most interesting stories that have caught my eyes were about how a Chinese man sent his wife to the United States to sell her for prostitution to make some money. From this portion of the book, my secondary sources would be the book, “The American West, The Gendered West.” This book will help me see the culture that the “American West” and how they portray their women showing their mindset on how these women show act, work, and learn. Also, how abuse on these women play a part during this time. Also, while doing my research, I am going to use some of the sources and books that the Author mentions in her book, “Relations of Rescue” to get a more sense of this subject of find a better primary source that deals with women violent during the 1800’s and see how that effects what was happening during important events in the United States.
ReplyDeleteFor my analysis, I plan on looking at a painting by Charles Deas titled "Long Jakes, The Rocky Mountain Man". It is described on their website as “The Crown Jewel” of the institute and “the single most influential image in Rocky Mountain iconography”. The painting itself shows a rugged, red-faced man with wild hair and gaudy, but functional clothes, sitting in horseback in a western setting, looking back in his saddle. It is basically a portrait of sorts of the standard Mountain Man, a sort of hero of the American West who explored the frontier and lived a generally solitary lifestyle. He has very few possessions; all of which can be fitted on his horse where he sits with his rifle in hand. I plan on analyzing this painting as a piece of representative art as well as drawing parallels to traditional, propagandistic portraits of heroes on horseback, such as Napoleon Crossing the Alps or any of Reuben’s many works. I will use these parallels, as well as research on mountain men themselves, to try and figure out for what purpose this was painted, and if something was trying to be promoted, what was it, and how was that accomplished? Mostly I will be looking at what the mountain man meant as an identity and as inspiration for the settlement of the American frontier, and I will be looking at the design and rhetorical choices made in this painting and at how it best presents its own argument.
ReplyDeleteThe Indian Student Amid American Inconsistencies – Vine Deloria Jr.
ReplyDeleteVine Deloria Jr. starts his essay by criticizing the American education system and society in general. He rejects the idea that education is the basis for democracy. The main point of his argument is that education for Native Americans is simply to educate them on the ideals and laws of the white man and make them understand the superiority of him.
He then agues the Native Americans were forced into the white man’s Americanization of the country. In other words, white men forced all people of all races to adhere to their set of beliefs and their way of life. Forcing people to respect their laws would lead to the equality that America is based on.
Further along, Deloria claims “At best, Indian education is an ill-conceived version of the worst of Protestant theological generalities cherished by conservative America”. (19). He believes we must constantly try to “motive” the Indian child and experiment with their education in order to make them see the way things should be, or as he says by making him do something you want him to do rather then get him interested in something he wants to do.
Generally, he says that the whole motive for American Indian education was to make them see how the white man does things and figure out ways to make them more similar to their white counterparts.
The author concludes his writing by stating that we need change in the education process for Native Americans and gives examples of how we can achieve this.
The Way West: True Stories of the American Frontier
ReplyDeleteThis is a great primary source to use for the upcoming second assignment. The book carries single stories about western events that help shape and tell the story of the American West. I found two or three stories that look like something I want to expand on into more research, but it gives the general story and people involved in with a small biography. The stories I’m interested in researching include Murder Most Foul: A new Mexico Cause Celebre , Maud- Kidnapped by Pancho Villa, Muggins Taylor: The Man and the Myth, and lastly Did Lambe Lead Mary to Slaughter?. These stories are all kind of mysteries and describe homicides or murders of the west which I think is interesting in general. I’m really glad I could find something I’m interested in now-a-days and relay it back to the time of the American Frontier. I think it will be interesting to see if murders and mysteries are alike or very different from the kinds that occur today. After reading a couple of the articles/stories I’m interested in I got a lot of information pertaining to each which I can branch out from. Along with details of the events a character biography is included as to why they were significant in the west. For example, I read Did Lambe Lead Mary to Slaughter? and it gave a detailed account of the murder and the trials behind the case. I’ll most likely end up using this text from the book although I have yet to read the others.
I went on to ProQuest and actually found an old biography on David Crockett. The article was published on May 28, 1831. It states that Crockett was an independent man who, over time opened a path of trade, adventure and reward through the Tennessee trade. Because Crockett exemplified “prudence and generosity,” he gain trust and support from those around him. When the wagoner withdrew to a farm, he soon formed great relationships with neighbors and was elected to the house of assembly. However, his appearance (rough, manners, and habits) gave him a notorious reputation. Crockett’s election to Congress seemed to be planned by one member who wanted to use Crockett to defeat his rival. Once Crockett saw through this plan, he chose to become a “bona fide candidate.” Although he lost the election, he never lost his popularity and reputation. The article then describes a scene in which the audience can grasp Crockett’s importance back then. I have not discovered any old articles to contrast to the Disney version of David Crockett’s life, however, I will probably use this little biography in my piece.
ReplyDeleteI have decided to write my paper on the chaotic life of the notorious Jesse James. Jesse James was from the West, Kearny Missouri. Jesse James led a long life of crime and chose when he was younger to join a rebellious squad. James truly was a legendary figure of the Wild West. Him and his fellow partners in crime robbed banks and trains, committed murders, and lived through the history, geography, people, lore, and culture of the true Wild West. He was an advocate in the expansion west, also referred to as Manifest Destiny. I was thinking of incorporating the first article written by John L. O’Sullivan outlining the focus of the Manifest Destiny. I was thinking of perhaps relating the life of Jesse James to a more modern day criminal of the West using various articles and books as resources. The books I have checked out from the library are Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Century, The Life, Times, and Treacherous Death of James, and The Assassination of Jesse James. These three books give detailed accounts of the various situations Jesse found himself in, as well as more background on his history and how he came to be a criminal. One of them specifically focuses on his assassination by Robert Ford. I will look further into his assassination and how it played out during the times of the 19th century Wild West.
ReplyDeleteJohn Muir was first immersed into nature when he was a little kid. He loved nature and fell in love with the Alaskan wilderness in 1879 when he first traveled to Alaska because of his interest in glaciers he got from being in the high sierra. John Muir said that “I am hopelessly and forever a mountaineer… Civilization and fever, and all the morbidness that has hooted at me, have not dimmed my glacial eyes, and I care to live only to entice people to look at Nature’s loveliness.” John Muir has been to Alaska multiple times and returned to Alaska in 1880 and 1890. He was writing his book Travels in Alaska when he died in 1914 and sadly was not able to finish the book.
ReplyDeleteTravels in Alaska tells the story about John Muir’s exploration of Alaska and his encounters with the beauty of the nature and the native people of Alaska. In this writing he talks about how he would just pick a spot and observe nature. This would include just sitting back and writing about nature or sketching nature’s beauty. His dedication is exemplified in the writing by talking about how he would get up before anyone else in the camp and skip breakfast in order to get an early start every day in his exploration of Alaska. The text seems to be written for the everyday person to read and promote one to get out in nature and experience it.
I looked at the pamphlet “The True Life of Billy the Kid”. This pamphlet was written by Don Jenardo. I think that it is a primary source about Billy the Kid, but I am not one hundred percent sure. This article speaks about Billy the Kids life from his first murder, to him being an officier and going around verses the officers and others that crossed his path. My favorite part of this pamphlet was the first chapter about his first murder. Billy the Kid went to Arizona where he fell in love with Quiseta, a beautiful mexican woman. Yet, Quiseta was in love with Frank Douglass and they were engaged. So the day of the wedding Billy asked Frank if he wanted to go hunting and Frank went. As, Frank drank is water Billy shot and killed him. Billy fleed and was not caught. I believe that I want to explore all of his known murders for my paper. I think it would be interesting to compare each murder and see the similarities and differences. Also, I think it would be interesting to see how Billy impacted the west through being an outlaw, and murderer. I want to look at where Billy the Kid was seen and what western states was he mostly in. Why he would be there and why he was killing. Therefore, I want to use newpaper articles maybe about the accounts. Also, I want to look at when Billy turned from a murderer to just an outlaw of the west.
ReplyDeletehttp://faculty.smu.edu/sweisenb/CatlinPgeon%27sEgg.jpg
ReplyDeleteI have decided to use a painting by George Catlin that was done in 1835. It shows a Native American chief standing in a cityscape and on the other side, there is an American General standing in a Native American village. I would like to use this painting for my assignment because there are several conflicting aspects that would make for interesting interpretation. I would like to find out, based on this painting, how the public eye viewed westward expansion at the time. I would also like to do further research on George Catlin, hopefully to get a full understanding of his painting and what inspired him to create it. I believe that art is a very important aspect of our history, and when analyzing the rhetoric of the American West, it’s important to consider visual depictions of events, not simply articles and letters. There is so much to be learned through art, and historical pieces like “Pigeon’s Egg” by George Catlin are extremely helpful when trying to visualize historical events. It is equally important to question the effects of westward expansion, while allowing oneself to learn more about modern times through the understanding of history. “Pigeon’s Egg” is a captivating painting in that it addresses several key subjects of westward expansion, like the unique relationship between a Native American and his land, the cold and brutal relationship between early settlers and Native Americans, and the complete disregard for Native American lifestyles and traditions. Several arguments can be made when viewing this painting, so I believe it will make for a good rhetorical analysis.
In the text "Aaron Copland and his World" by Carol Oja and Judith Tick, these two women of Modern music explore Copland's impact on the twentieth century. The book has seven sections, ranging from an autobiographical scan of his life, political involvement, his impact on culture, and his relationship to the American public. The introduction goes to great lengths to show Copland as a composer who was not merely a self-absorbed writer of music, but rather a musical citizen who was socially active with concern of impacting the public with his work. Opening with a quote of Kierkegaard, which states that Life must be understood backwards and lived forwards, the author's go on to say that Copland's legacy is right in between these grounds; standing between memory and history. Much discussion is given to the notion of Copland being an "American" composer. Dual viewpoints are given as Martin Brody treats the term philosophically, stating that Copland used this aesthetic as a focal point throughout his compositional life, while Anthony Berger's thought is that "Copland didn't care about such abstract things as professional philosophical aesthetics" (xix, Oja, Tick). A concluding essay appears as Copland's personality as a musical leader is examined at length when his music is studied next to Mahler, Ives, Bartok, and Thomson. The book's coda states that while Copland will first be remembered as an "American" composer - his music transcends national borders.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Inouye’s speech titled “From Expiration to Emancipation” was a keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois in 1968. It was addressed following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. His address criticized Americans who revolted with violence and through his rhetoric, called upon Americans to unite for a better tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteInouye’s speech first introduced to his audience that “This is my country,” he also stated to the people that, “This is our country.” He was attempting to unify a divided nation brought on by racism and the lack of civil rights especially for African-Americans. He also speaks of the growing Anarchy which has infected “our cities”. Daniel Inouye mentions the Vietnam War and how it is immoral, how all wars are immoral.
In his statement of immoral wars, he hoped that his four-year-old son will have learned to live by the Ten Commandments when he is grown. As to not forget the rest of the world, he includes that places like Berlin, Paris, and China are also have an outbreak in riots from young people. This is where he mentions lack of civil rights to Black people or African-Americans are intolerable.
He states his own ethos by claiming himself as, “An American whose ancestors came from Japan,” When asked, “why can’t the Negro be like you?” He responded with, “First, although my skin is colored, it is not black. In this country, the color of my skin does not ignite the prejudice that has smoldered for generations.” He states three more facts of why his outcry is very different from the African-American movement. The second being although his grandfather came here in poverty, he came as a free man. Also, Inouye states that his family was not separated or sold off like the African-Americans. Finally, he states that although in World War II his family was interned, he was never forced to live in the ghettos.
In closing, he reveals that numerous more accounts of injustice have happened to African-Americans, from being taxed more on goods to knowing that the mortality rate of an African-American man’s children are twice the rate of white children. He states that as citizens, we have lost “our faith in our country, in its purposes and its institutions.” Inouye states that we must not lose sight of our future and generations to come.
Inouye believes that the only way our society can change is for Americans to stop the violence and act out/protest peacefully against injustice. He stands with African-Americans in the sense that he was not stand for injustice. He concludes his speech with stating the true meaning of Aloha which is, “I love you,” stating, “to all of you, my fellow Americans, aloha.”
What comes to mind when one thinks of Davy Crockett? Maybe his silly hat, or his pioneer attitude, or possibly even his very own theme song made famous by Disney. In May of 1955, Disney released its feature film Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier. The following summer, the big screen adventure of Davy Crockett And the River Pirates came out. Both movies tell the tales of the “folk hero” Crockett. Disney depicts the determined character pulling stunts such as “grinning down a bear,” wrestling with an alligator, and fighting in the historical Alamo. The movies encourage the audience to be hardheaded as Crockett was, and reach for their goals. During the migration of American to the West, ideals like this were mainstream. Everyone had the freedom and ability to make their own choices and live the lifestyle of the West. Davy Crockett serves as a perfect representation of the American ideals that stand strong today. Disney has been known for incorporating optimistic morals into their movies because most are watched by children. Through movies like The Little Mermaid and The Lion King, Disney conveys to youngsters to be individuals and take charge of their lives. Crockett takes down the Indians and fights for the land of the West. And, however controversial the authenticity of the historical aspects in the film, Davy Crockett (King of the Wild Frontier/And the River Pirates) symbolizes the present take on Americans’ migration to this new, exciting land.
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