| Papers [169-175] of 525 :: [Page 25 of 75] | | Go to page : <— 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 —> | |
|
|
The Life of Black Elk, 2002.
A look into the life of Black Elk (1863-1950) - a Native American religious leader of the Oglala Lakota band of the Sioux tribe.
1,878 words (approx. 7.5 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 60.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
By examining the life of Black Elk, this paper provides a brief historical tour of the life of a typical Native American being confronted with the advancing white pioneers attempting to move Westward. It explores the events of various battles that took place between the pioneers and the Native Americans and the involvement that Black Elk had in each of these. It focuses specifically on the saga of the Sioux tribe.
From the Paper
"According to the Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia (2002), Black Elk (1863-1950) was a Native American religious leader of the Oglala Lakota band of the Sioux tribe. Black Elk, who at the age of 17 had a vision of the Lakota people rising up and freeing their lands from the white settlers, tried to find ways of reconciling his people's traditions with Christianity and the encroaching reality of white dominance. This vision was a famous one among the Sioux in which the Powers of the World told Black Elk of a "fearful road, a road of troubles and of war. On this road you shall walk, and from it you shall have the power to destroy a people's foes" (Neihardt, p. 29). Reality, unfortunately, would prove to be quite different. The whites were eventually successful in obliterating the Native Americans' way of life and subjugating the peoples."
| |
|
Literature on Native American History, 2002.
An analysis and comparison on two works relating to Native American history.
2,456 words (approx. 9.8 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 74.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper discusses and compares "The Treaty of Canandaigua 1794: 200 Years of Treaty Relations between the Iroquois Confederacy and the United States" by G. Peter Jemison and Anna M. Schein and James Wilson's "The Earth Shall Weep: A History of Native America". The paper shows that "The Treaty of Canandaigua" provides an in-depth analysis of the treaty and its effects on both the Native American and European population of the United States, while "The Earth Shall Weep" encompasses the lives and history of many diverse Native American tribes, over almost their entire known history.
From the Paper
"Interestingly, James Wilson is not a Native American, and yet he writes The Earth Shall Weep as if he were. Wilson's analysis is clearly written outside of the Eurocentric, Christian view that has dominated the world stage for so long. As such, Wilson's review of Native American history is fresh and inviting. He manages to create a somewhat balanced overview of the indigenous North American population, while never idealizing or demonizing their culture. As such, Wilson's somewhat detached viewpoint works wonders in this lengthy (480 page) work by creating a book that is both instructive and balanced.
This balance is especially refreshing give the tendency of many books on native American culture to be written either from a dry, academic standpoint, or from a somewhat naive and idealistic viewpoint of indigenous North American culture. Wilson's book gives a useful review of Native American history without falling prey to the either extreme of analysis. As such, the book is engaging and readable, without being overbearing or exclusionist in its point of view."
| |
|
Literature of the Southwest, 2002.
A look at four works of literature which represent the spirit of Southwestern America.
2,118 words (approx. 8.5 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 66.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
Southwestern American literature forms a distinct genre with a sharp flavor that includes land, geography, attitudes and people. Four novels, Tony Hillerman's "Dance Hall of the Dead", Edward Abbey's "Fire on the Mountain", Cormac McCarthy's "All the Pretty Horses", and Rudolfo Anaya's "Bless Me, Ultima" are disscussed in this paper to present a partial menu of this exceptionally pungent mix.
From the Paper
"Within the harsh realities of llanero life, Anayo shows us the spirit of the Chicano people who inhabit this bleak land. He gives us what Paul Beekman Taylor calls the wings of survival: "the spirit's soar to salvation (where) flight merges quests for art with the soul's inclination toward its source; that is, worldly with spiritual aspirations" (Taylor unpaged). Antonio's spirit is one with the spirit of the llano: "The summer came and burned me brown with its energy, and the llano and the river filled me with their beauty" (Anaya 76). His soul immerses itself in the mystery of Ultima's magic, in order, in the words of Taylor, to achieve "flight from chains of church, national identity, and parental ties" (unpaged), to learn to be himself and survive in this land."
| |
|
Tecumseh, 2002.
A biography of the life of the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh through the accounts of two different historians.
1,083 words (approx. 4.3 pages), 8 sources, MLA, $ 37.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper introduces the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, born in an Indian village near Dayton, Ohio, in March 1768 and one of the most successful known Indian leaders. It compares how the two main authorities on him, John Sugden and David Edmunds, convey Tecumseh, his life as well as his accomplishments. It discusses how Sugden and Edmunds exhibit extremely divergent writing styles and approaches to their topics, and how both give clear and compelling accounts of the man Tecumseh and his motivations. He was a great man and it is no wonder so many authors have attempted to tell his story.
From the Paper
"Edmunds' story is also well written and compelling, and like Sugden, he gives personal glimpses into the man, made possible by his research and understanding of his topic. Both men place thoughts and actions in the character's heads, and thought they could not have known what these historic people were really thinking, they had a very good idea through their immersion in their topic, they both understand the motivations and beliefs of the historic characters in the story, because of their intensive study of their subjects. "
| |
|
Native American Imagery, 2002.
An exploration of the creation of Native American imagery by nineteenth century artists, Edward Sheriff Curtis and George Catlin.
2,181 words (approx. 8.7 pages), 15 sources, APA, $ 68.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
The "American" public has always had an interest in the lives of Native Americans. During the early 1800, this curiosity blossomed in a fascination. The paper shows that unfortunately, most Americans were content to relegate all Native Americans into this caricature of the "noble savage", dehumanizing them, and few settlers sought to understand the culture of the Natives whose land they were occupying. Fortunately two nineteenth century artists, Edward Sheriff Curtis and George Catlin did not share the same view. This paper discusses how these men dedicated their lives to the study and preservation of Native American tribal culture for posterity by creating imagery based on the Native American people. Although their methodology, content, and style were dissimilar, (Curtis used the camera and Catlin worked with oil paint), their goal was the same, to capture and record the essence of America's indigenous people through art.
From the Paper
"Countless numbers around the globe have benefited from the information gathered during the 1800's by Edward S. Curtis and George Catlin.
Without these records many of the customs and heritage that we know of as "Native American" might be lost today.
It is easy to be critical of Catlin's paintings when judging it against the realism of Curtis' photographs, but the goals of the two men were the same. The sincerity, accuracy, and honesty of the collections that were compiled by the ethnographists transcend their work from the category of mere art to the palate of life."
| |
|
Native American Art Review, 2002.
This paper analyzes the art review of a Native American art exhibit at the American Craft Museum.
982 words (approx. 3.9 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 34.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper discusses "Changing Hands", an art review of a major Native American art exhibit at the American Craft Museum by critic David Revere McFadden. It opens with an overview of the exhibit itself and its highlights. The review, and the critic's 'authority' to report on the exhibit are then discussed. Finally, there is a commentary of the effect the critic's piece has upon one's desire to view the exhibit.
From the Paper
"Changing Hands, the exhibit features several art forms of Native America. The artists who have displayed their work have given examples of both traditional and more contemporary pieces - for example a reconstructed earthenware vessel of the type that might have been used centuries ago for water or other liquids. The several art forms shown by the Changing Hands exhibit include wool rug and vegetable dye; gold bracelet work inlaid with larimar, lapis lazuli,sugulited, shell, coral, obsidian and opal; earthenware sculpture; an acrylic collage on wood; glass and copper vase; cottonwood root sculpture; leather beltwork of silver, coral, turquoise, and serpentine; coral necklace with gold and pearls; pendants of gold, wood, silver, coral, turquoise, opal, shell, and lapis lazuli; earthenware canteens and jugs; hinged silver buckles; earthenware tiles of sand, copper, and oil on a wooden panel; sand media on wood."
| |
|
"Dance Hall of the Dead", 2002.
A review of Tony Hillerman's book "Dance Hall of the Dead" with an emphasis on Zuni and Navajo spiritual practices.
3,380 words (approx. 13.5 pages), 8 sources, MLA, $ 96.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper examines Tony Hillerman's book "Dance Hall of the Dead"about a Navajo policeman who investigates the murder of a young Zuni. It discusses how no one, outside an initiated practitioner in a Native American religion can really comprehend the true significance of its beliefs and rituals and how Hillerman in this novel makes an excellent beginning in differentiating between spiritual beliefs of Zuni and Navajo. It shows how the Zuni religion can be seen to be extensively different from the religion of the Navajo's in the two tribes' rituals, burial practices and beliefs in an afterlife. It uses outside sources to confirm and expand on the understanding of these varied spiritual practices.
From the Paper
"For the Navajo, spirituality permeates all areas of life and is rooted in nature. Daily life proceeds upon Mother Earth and under Father Sky. There is no word for religion in the Navajo language, not because there is no religion, but because religion is not separate from life. There is nothing but religion, otherwise known as life among the Dineh, or the People. Rituals, prayers, legends and songs, are scarcely ever out of their minds. The Navajo create sand paintings and hold sings such as the Enemy Way, the Blessing Way, the Flint Way and the Mountain Top Way to cure illness and to help them surmount the problems of life on earth (Waters 248-249). From the Navajo point of view, as Frank Waters puts it, "religion is the way of life" (Waters 396)."
|
|
|
