Discussion Response
Expectations:
The discussion responses you submit for each Discussion Post should all follow the same format and style. These should be 250-350 w, and are meant to be written in a "blog style," as opposed to more formal writing. The intention behind this is to map the process of learning and analyzing history--therefore it should have a tone of personal reflection in addition to analysis. Reflect on the content you've learned in this unit. Then, consider your position/experience and how you relate to this material (yes--you can use first-person). Though there is an overall informal tone to these posts, your answers should employ critical thinking (as opposed to regurgitating material) and effectively apply reading and media sources from the unit's module within your overall analysis. Include several specifics from course material, offering really simplistic citations in parentheses such as: (name of textbook chapter), (name of primary source), (name of historian video).
Background:
Many of Hollywood's most popular science fiction films examine encounters with aliens-from The Day the Earth Stood Still to E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial and Independence Day. In 1492, a "close encounter of the 'third kind'" (physical contact) actually took place, as groups of people who had never known of each other's existence collide. Since the arrival of Europeans in the Americas, there has been an unfortunately persistent theme of depicting racial and ethnic outliers as "the Other"--someone who is not only different, but inferior to European decedents, and someone who should be feared by the majority population. These depictions have continued to be used in popular culture to justify discriminatory policies. Drawing on this week's reading material and lectures, 250-350 w post considering the following questions in your response:
Questions:
Q1. What pop cultural product (movie, TV show, book) would you say has most shaped your perception/misconception of Native American history?
Q2. Why is it important to have an understanding of the complexities and extensiveness of Native American history today?
Q3. How do anxieties of coming into contact with "the Other" manifest in our society and culture today?
Q4. Why is it important to recognize these images in today's culture?