Sunday, September 19, 2010

Colonialism & The Tempest

In the video you had us watch, "How Hollywood Shaped the Native Americans", we are shown how Hollywood manipulated and twisted the roles of Native Americans to have a negative connotation in the movie industry. It was portrayed that white were the minority in comparison to the Indians, and that they were "out for blood". White people were also shown as being super, and always won the fight against the Indians. Over 4,000 movies used this example of Native Americans, twisting our view of them. At the end of the video, the speaker's final note is that "A Nation who does not know its history has no future." This is a powerful ending statement, showing that if we are ignorant of the things that happened in the past, it will be impossible for us to move on to the future. I think this creates a parallel with Caliban, because Prospero took over the island right when he arrived. He then made Caliban believe that he saved his life, and manipulated him into thinking what he wanted him to. Caliban thinks that the island is rightfully his, and while he is a slave, he still talks back to Prospero. 
In the midst of the article "Cultural Studies: Postcolonialism, African-American Criticism, and Queer Theory", they define the philosophical concept called "alternity as "the others" are excluded from positions of power and viewed as different and inferior". Prospero does this to Caliban in several instances. Prospero manipulates Caliban into being a slave, and treats him as though he is nothing. Although Caliban knows Prospero is not the rightful owner of the island, he had to obey his commands. Prospero treats the people of the island like they are not worthy, and uses them as his slaves. I do think Shakespeare is sympathetic of Caliban, because he presents him in a somewhat positive light. He is bitter towards Prospero, but for good reason.

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