3 pages american culture writing need in 15 hours
In this final topic in the "Settler Colonialism and the Logic of Elimination" module, you will examine the case study of Pocahontas. Every school child in America has, at one time or another, heard the story of how a young "Indian" woman, daughter of a chief, begged for the life of an early settler/explorer, John Smith. It is a romantic tale; a love story. It is also a tale of mediation and understanding between two different cultures.
In the article, "Pocahontas Perplex" you'll read about the enduring appeal of the story. Questions are raised about whether there is any historical basis for the myth. You will then turn to two primary documents. What is a primary document? Can we take primary documents at their face value as truth? One document is from John Smith, the male protagonist of the myth. Skim this reading to get a sense of Smith as a storyteller. The second document is a letter written by John Rolfe, who married Pocahontas.
The power of the story of Pocahontas over time is made clear through the success of Disney's animated version released in 1995.
Is there any resemblance between the myth and historical fact? If not, how might this relate to what you've learned about settler colonialism and the logic of elimination?
READ
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/true-story-pocahontas-180962649/
Green_The Pocahontas Perplex.pdf
First Hand Accounts of Virginia.doc ((Skim the entire document, but pay attention to highlighted sections)
Primary documents: Letter of John Rolfe.doc
Watch
Pocahontas. Produced by Jim Pentecost, Disney, 1995.
Assigment
In this paper, you must draw from the case study of Pocahontas to discuss how the historical facts of her life and the popular culture representations about her differ. What does this tell you about the story of Pocahontas? What is its power? How might this story be an example of the settler logic of elimination. Draw from at least two of the readings and the film.
The response paper should make a strong claim, supported by evidence, and make a conclusion in 3 pages.