This week, after learning primarily about Pocahontas drastically changed my point of view on Native American History. It was honestly disturbing learning that Pocahontas was forced into her position. She was put into a position of power and she looked horrified in most of her portraits. She was also wearing masculine clothing which led me to believe that many people viewed her as a man since she was looked upon. In the article “Who is Pocahontas?” by Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, it mentioned how she was kidnapped and ransomed. Along with that, she was also converted to be a Christian, which is not something that kids movies should “portray.”
I was also thinking how interesting it is that there is a Disney movie based off of Pocahontas. The film is a kids movie, so it will not include the actual events that happened. However, the events that truly happened were brutal, so it’s interesting that they turned it into a movie where it was glorified. The “complexity” of that situation made me realize that a lot of stories are based on cruel events. Many of those stories are told to kids because there is a rhyme or a lesson to be learned from them. I’m not saying whether it is good or bad, but it is definitely something that I have thought about this week.
It is so essential to grapple with the “complexity” of history because there are many ways of interpreting the information. While there is evidence that some events did occur, there is no real way of knowing exactly why something happened. People find history interesting because they were not there to experience the event, and they want to learn more about it. They want to know what happened and why it happened since it can explain many theories or questions. History is also complex because it was considered early civilization. It made the outline for how modern society would function. People have learned from history, and they have formed the normal way of living from what has happened. Without learning about history, civilizations would have never flourished at the rate it does now.
Hi Ben!
I think your post touches on a very important point about the role of myth-making in American history, especially in regard to Pocahontas’ narrative. Her story is so complex and deeply embedded in the coercive and violent circumstances of colonization. I also thought it was useful to better grapple with who she was–and how she was portrayed– through the different portraits. Additionally, I think complicating what we “think” we know about the past helps us embrace the complexity of history. History is not meant to be neat or tidy– it is messy and difficult (with emotionally challenging topics). And yet, it is important to inform ourselves so that we can come to the strongest interpretation of the past.