Dance

A detailed Summary of Dance


Nothing has done more to perpetuate liberal myths about the Plains Indians than Kevin Costner's Dances With Wolves, the beautifully done and ever politically correct film that was the Academy Awards 1991 "Best Picture". The historical inaccuracies of this film were so gross as to be amusing. (My wife hates to go to films like this with me; I either gripe about the propaganda or giggle at its silliness.)

My favorite was the scene where the old medicine man asked Kevin Costner why he was going to start a family so soon instead of waiting. "Sure!", I told my wife, "I bet they have a Planned Parenthood set up in one of those tepees!" The Indians not only lacked modern birth control technology, but, because of continual warfare, the uncertainties of their nomadic lifestyle, and the dangers of buffalo hunting, faced the serious threat of underpopulation. Hence their willingness to steal and adopt outsiders. Added to show the enlightened nature and progressive spirit of the Indians, this ridiculous scene only demonstrates the director's desire to manufacture a politically correct film.

That desire is repeatedly shown in the film's representation


In one sense, Hollywood gets even with Dances With Wolves. For decades movies cast Indians as savages and buffoons, without much character, personality, or diversity, while whites generally appeared as the 'good guys'. Now, that is reversed. Every once in a while, a less-than-noble Indian appears, to give the film psychological depth and try to maintain credibility, but on the whole they are seen as a positive force, whereas whites are invariably the villains.

For a different perspective on the Sioux Indians romanticized in Costner's film, see Francis Parkman's The Oregon Trail. Parkman, one of the great American historians of the 19th century, wrote a fascinating journal while living with the tribe in the 1840s. Though the politically correct despise him because he is critical of the tribe's militaristic spirit and lack of responsibility and discipline, Parkman is a perceptive observer, a superb writer, and an excellent foil for modern, PC treatments of the Indians.

This 'getting even', however, though understandable, is dangerous since it is driven by a general hostility to Western culture. One critic suggested that in "Dances With Wol

Some common words found in the essay are:
Dances Wolves, Planned Parenthood, Americans Parkman, Parkman American, Americans Dogmeat, Costner Indian, Gross Indian, George Catlin, Academy Awards, Indians Contrary, dances wolves, politically correct, costner's film, correct film, modern americans, 19th century, indian women, politically correct film,

Approximate Word count = 774
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History

join now Save Paper

Related Essays

  • dance Throughout the course of human history, dance has been a part of cultures around the world. The purpose and style of dance varies from culture to culture. ... 482 words
  • The Dance The Dance ampquotEvery artwork exists to evoke pleasures that are easier to feel than to describe.ampquot Vendler, 73. William Carlos Williams ... 855 words
  • dance Dance Dancing can be interpreted and defines in many ways. ... Most people have urges to dance, whether for fun or in front of an audience. ... 699 words
  • dance Opinion of Twentieth Dance Evolution is not necessarily a good thing, and unfortunately, dance is an everchanging art form, especially evident in the ... 530 words
  • dance 2 ... She began to dance in a way that seemed to be more natural to her. ... Learning About Dance pg.6162 Denishawn was a dance school created in 1915 by Ruth St. ... 724 words
  • Dance ... member of the Sandhills Ballet Theatre a nonprofit arts organization, dedicated to enhancing the communityamp39s awareness of dance, through performances and ... 716 words

Professional Essays

  • AIDS and the Dance Community AIDS has been especially devastating to the dance community, both in terms of personal lives lost and talent the world will never see. ... 1961 words
  • Dance in Asia Gods Who Dance Introduction In his study of dance in Asia during the early part of the century, Shawn made the statement that Asians, like him, seemed to ... 1147 words
  • PostModern Dance Artists By the early 1960s, however, a new generation of dancers began to view modern dance as a genre beset with the same problems of exclusive virtuosity, a ... 1617 words
  • The Modern Dance Movement Martha Graham reexamined the creative possibilities of movement, gesture, composition and theatrical symbolism to expand the expressive vocabulary of dance. ... 6890 words
  • AfricanAmerican Dance and Women AfricanAmerican Dance and Women AfricanAmericans are credited with having been highly influential in shaping the history of dance in the United States. ... 1082 words
  • Martha Grahamamp39s Creative Approach to Dance In the world of dance, Martha Grahams influence as an artist has been substantial and monumental. She has been compared to Stravinksi ... 1344 words


Saved Paper

Save your papers so you can locate them quickly!

Newest Essays

Testimonials

  • "Thank You So Much!!! You have saved me once again!!!"
    Jack M.
  • "With so many papers to chose from, I was able to get ideas to help me with all of my classes. Thank You!"
    Brian P.
  • "I've used this site for the last 3 years to help me come up with ideas for my papers."
    Sara J.
  • "I use this site every week to help me write my own papers!"
    Rachel W.
  • "I love this site!!!"
    Marie N.
Home Join Now Support
Acceptable Use Policy About us FAQ
All papers are for research and reference purposes only!
© 2002-2009 DirectEssays.com. All Rights Reserved.