What is Romanticism?

European concept, but inseparable from American Indian as "noble savage"

Leah last week: contrast with "reality"

Next time: prep word and application

Romanticism as simplification, de-contextualization, projection of unconscious needs on other

Romanticized Indian as everything we're not: self-sufficient, communal, close to nature, simple needs . . .

Or evil nemesis: Indian as avenging angel, weeping eco-warrior

But neither is really human . . . .

Neihardt represses complicated reality of Black Elk's Catholicism, his work in a general store--too much like our own daily reality

"Reality" slips through or is suggested by syncretism . . . Christian imagery plus Ghost Dance as Apocalyptic movement

Black Elk Speaks 1932; Love Medicine 1984, 1993

Continuities with Black Elk? What has changed about American Indian literature?

If Black Elk and Love Medicine are both examples of Native American literature, how do you talk about them together?

3b. Native American Indian alternative narrative: "Loss and Survival"

(Whereas immigrants define themselves by leaving the past behind in order to become American, the Indians were once “the Americans” but lost most of their land along with many of their people. Yet Native Americans defy the myth of "the vanishing Indian," choosing to "survive," sometimes in faith that the dominant culture will eventually destroy itself, and the forests and buffalo will return.)

 loss and survival, 124-125

Romanticization of Indian? or post-modern substitutes for Romanticism?

Evaluate description:

Erdrich as part of wave of recent ethnic women writers who balance wide popularity with critical respectability

How?

What resemblances to popular + critically praised African American and Mexican American women writers (e. g. Maya Angelou, Sandra Cisneros)

"friendlier" writer than Morrison, but less profound--but pleasantly profound--how?

In brief, evaluate Erdrich's style--positively and negatively

How much do these issues impact  the "assimilation-resistance" conflict in minority literature? Does Native American literature / culture offer alternatives to these extremes of cross-cultural interaction?

"acculturation"

"syncretism" 146

American Indians offer yet another option--a variant on assimilation that's sometimes called "acculturation." This is a form of change that's peculiar to traditional societies like Native America.

Broad distinction:

Assimilation: person or group gives up old culture to adapt to new culture; compare "conversion," where you give up old ways for new ones

Acculturation: old culture absorbs new items or ideas, incorporates them to pre-existing culture.

Example of American Indian acculturation: horses

Assimilation is more radical, revolutionary, more rapid and unsettling change.

Acculturation is more gradual--something relatively new can look like it's been there forever.

Examples of acculturation in Black Elk?