wk 4 add

Assignment

Submit a portfolio of your best discussion board activity work

through Week 4. Your portfolio should consist of three items: 1)

a copy of two discussion board posts; 2) a copy of one

particular exchange in which you participated (i.e. your

response to a classmate's post and any additional follow-up

posts you made); 3) a one-paragraph description of why you've

chosen these postings as representative of your best work for

your portfolio. Your evaluation grade will be based on your

active participation, the posts you've assembled in your

portfolio, and your commentary on them.

Week 1 Discussion Board Post

We understand what was going on behind European moves into the New World by

looking at maps like the European map of the world or a map by Samuel de

Champlain. Cultural biases, economic interests and feelings of supremacy

fashioned these worldviews. This describes a European map of the world from the

1550s, showing how Europeans saw natives in Latin America. Indigenous people

have been depicted as monsters on the lower-left side of the map. This depiction

epitomizes the attitude of that time, with European people perceiving themselves

as better than others and, therefore, dehumanizing those who were different.

The map of Samuel de Champlain is filled with images of natural resources

available in New France and New England, like sea cod, minks, beaver skins,

seals, and whales.

European exploration and settling of new lands were justified by considering the

discovery of these abundant resources as genuine. Exploiting these resources

fueled European expansion and contributed by maps like that of Champlain.

The sea routes for the Dutch map show the economic reasons for Europe's actions.

The slavery system was an inhuman thing done by Europeans. However, they saw

a need in their economics that led to this practice. This map emphasizes how the

Europeans tried to make their most profitable deal in the new world, extracting

labor and resources from Africa. Such maps showed their European perspective,

which viewed natives as subhuman, supported natural resource exploitation and

gave more attention to profits than anything else. This ethnocentrism, economic

interests, and European superiority ideals made it easy to settle, exploit and enslave

others in the new world.

Recognizing the moral and ethical stakes of the Europeans' actions in the Americas

requires understanding this historical context.

Week 2 Discussion Board Post

It is true that readers react differently to John Smith's writings. This contradiction

is reflected in how he interacts with the Powhatans and Pocahontas. Smith has

been hailed as a hero for saving the Virginia colony and a friend to Native

Americans. However, some view him as a self-publicizing and untrustworthy

historian.

One significant component of Smith's writing is highlighted by Karen Ordahl

Kupperman's conclusion that her narrative, especially the parts about the

Powhatans and Pocahontas, was self-consciously literary and therefore, historically

dubious. Smith's narrative-style stories often resemble epic, folklore, adventure,

and travel literature.

Smith uses rhetorical devices in his storytelling to draw readers in, much the way

modern filmmakers do with gripping tales. Pocahontas' representation in

contemporary films and Smith's literary works illustrates its cultural significance.

As a symbol of optimism and understanding between Native Americans and

European settlers, Pocahontas embodies the idea of intercultural cooperation.

The Pocahontas myth's "truths" center on harmony, cross-cultural understanding,

and overcoming differences. When these "truths" are not historically true, as

Smith's embellishments were, it complicates things. Even while his stories may

have been influenced by self-promotion, they helped create the timeless myth of

Pocahontas by placing more emphasis on its cultural value than its historical

accuracy.

Even if Smith's tales may not always line up with historical fact, his works serve as

an excellent example of the dramatic expression of culturally significant truths in

narrative form in this setting. Both in Smith's day and in modern film, the timeless

legend of Pocahontas emphasizes the potent influence of storytelling on forming

cultural narratives and ideals.

Classmate: The myth of Pocahontas is as culturally important today as it was

in the 1600s. Though the reasons that they are important has changed overtime.

The myth of Pocahontas was important in the time of John Smith because it could

be used by people like John Smith and the Virginia company. It could be used to

entice more of the English people to move to the new world. By showing that the

Native Americans could have some redeeming qualities (Saving John Smith).

Bringing in more people would allow the colony to continue and thus make more

money for the Virginia Company. The Importance of it today is to see how these

Myths have impacted culture even far into the future from when they were first

written. The truths in the myth of Pocahontas would be the characters involved in

the story, such as Pocahontas, and John Smith. I do not think that the myth of

Pocahontas is less effective because of most of it not being historically accurate,

because it is a myth. There is still the same amount to be learned from it as long

as the context around it is correct. Taking it at face value is incorrect but knowing

what was going on historically around this myth is what makes the myth effective.

My response: Hello Austin, I agree with your perspective on the

importance of the Pocahontas myth. It's true that the reasons for its

importance have evolved over time. In the 1600s, the myth served as a

tool to encourage English people to move to the New World. Today, the

Pocahontas myth is still culturally significant because it allows us to

examine how myths and stories impact our culture and understanding

of history.