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POST 1 : THE MYTH OF THE NOBLE/GOOD SAVAGE

POST 1 : THE MYTH OF THE NOBLE/GOOD SAVAGE


1) This myth is commonly attributed to the 18th century philosopher Rousseau. He believed that the orginal man was free from sin, and the concept of "right" and "wrong". These men called savages were viewed as noble, from the philosopher's point of view. This appeared during the Indigenous lands invasion. Invaders would write how happier the Natives were, than the Europeans. Some colonists stayed with the tribes. The Natives didn't understand the concepts of materialism and heritage. They explained the foreigners that they didn't feel the need to exchange material with other states. They were happy with what they had in their territory. 


2) 

Bug-Jargal (1826)


A detail from Benjamin West's heroic, neoclassical history painting, The Death of General Wolfe (1771), depicting an idealized Native American.
3) We can find the myth of the noble savage in the Disney movie Pocahontas, released in 1995. This musical is about the trip made by English men to the "New World". The story takes place at the time America was recently discovered. 
Two characters in the movie end up in unknown American territory after an accident. The plot continues as the English meet Pocahontas and the rest of her tribe. 
This movie portrays the fear of the so called "savages" as they faced the colonists. It also shows the connection between nature and the tribes : Pocahontas is friends with a raccoon.
We can learn some cultural traditions in some scenes, where, for example, one of the Natives screams a battle cry. 

Native Americans are also mentioned in songs like Indians by Anthrax, and Native Blood by Testament. 
"Indians" pays ode to the mistreatments the Native tribes suffered during the colonial invasions. Here are some of the lyrics :

 
Respect is something that you earn
Our Indian brother's getting burned
Original American
Turned into, second class citizen


On the other hand, "Native Blood" talks about the prejudice and disrespect Native Americans suffer everyday. Here's an extract from the lyrics :

 What gives me strength is my beliefs
Whenever I stumble, whenever I fall
I won’t be pushed against the wall
This white man’s world won’t tell me what to do
Nowhere to run, native blood
I wanna reach and touch the Sun

The lead singers of these two bands are both Native Americans.

 









Comments

  1. Philippe ThivillierSeptember 17, 2019 at 11:22 AM

    OK but a bit short and sketchy, I'm afraid...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Philippe ThivillierSeptember 19, 2019 at 11:22 AM

    An improved version. Well done, Elena.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Philippe ThivillierSeptember 20, 2019 at 9:02 AM

    ELENA
    BLOG POST 1: The MYTH of the NOBLE/GOOD SAVAGE
    --> CONTENT (Questions 1 & 3): 7,5/10
    --> FORM (Question 2, including post design, layout and pictures + language): 7,5/10
    Total: 15/20 A very personal approach. Too bad the chronology of the myth (question 1) is not successfully handled. Part 3 is well done though.

    ReplyDelete

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