Case Conceptualization of "Dances With Wolves"

¶ … Conceptualization/Film Analysis: Dances with Wolves

The movie, 'Dances with Wolves' is among the most noteworthy of Hollywood motion pictures. Though it comes with its flaws, the movie has still proven to be successful in bringing an image of the culture of Native Americans into mainstream America's collective consciousness. The movie's screenplay manages to introduce a better understanding, acknowledgement, and sensitivity towards Lakota people. Several scenes in the movie back the above idea. These scenes also give the movie's audience an access to familial relationships in tribal communities and the humanity the people of this culture possess. By the above statement, I am, in particular, thinking of the numerous scenes within the movie wherein we witness "gift giving." The first gift-exchange transpires when Lieutenant Dunbar (played by Kevin Costner) brews coffee for the little contingent of Lakota people that happens upon his military fort. This scene closes with the Lakota warriors leaving the site with new coffee tins strapped onto their backs; a voice-over reveals to viewers that Dunbar has also gifted them some sugar and coffee for taking back to their people (Eagan, 1990).

1. Lieutenant Dunbar

1. Concise Background

1. A White Civil-War veteran and hero

1. He sees a man's quality, and doesn't judge anyone influenced by notions of the society or other people

1. Forms a bond with Lakota-speaking Sioux Indian tribe

1. Braves the frontiers of America

1. Apprehended by fellow members of the White American community

1. Rescued by the red- Indian Sioux tribes

1. Relationship with Sioux tribe

1. Because of the racial prejudice of White American supremacists against red Indians (Native Americans), they consider Dunbar as their enemy.

1. Prior to his first live encounter with the Natives, Dunbar also views them as the enemy and as pests that threaten the Western U.S. frontiers; however, after meeting them, Dunbar gets a better understanding of the community, learning and understanding their lifestyle and culture.

1. He fights alongside the Lakota tribe, against white supremacists.

1. When Dunbar decides to visit the Native tribe and comes across a wounded Native American woman, while on the way, he saves her and brings her back home to her tribe. Following this incident, the Sioux community begins their dealings with Dunbar; ever since, they treat each other as kinsmen.

2. How their life experiences affect their mental health: Psychologists that analyze conflicts among individuals do not seem to have much to offer on the movie 'Dances with Wolves', which revolves around the conflicts among different groups of people- that is, between American cavalry soldiers and Indians (Hersh, 1991).

1. Love of Friendship

1. Dunbar's friendship with Kicking Bird and Wind in His Hair was forged through a friendly interaction when members of the Sioux tribe came across Dunbar, and they sought to understand each other.

1. Dunbar provided firearms, buffalo fur and meat to the Sioux. This proved to them that he was genteel, as he offered them help through rewarding them with goods, instilling a liking for him among the tribesmen.

1. The Indian within us

1. The very same rains and breezes and earthquakes and floods that we face are faced by the Indians, as well; there are rivers, lakes and mountains where we wish to build our resorts. All Americans are faced with such realities on an everyday basis; they ought to relate to these situations from their inner Indian, inner Euro-American, or in a novel way.

1. The motion picture, 'Dances with Wolves' treasures, exalts, and honors the Indian that is within us. This personality trait can stand up and stand tall, feeling like a valued equal to our other inner nature, which completes our personality and characterizes us.

1. The film, 'Dances with Wolves', portrays an Indian standpoint, that a wolf and a man can forge a relation, an instant of love- this instant is admirable and worth being venerated with a new identity. John Dunbar, the film's hero, thus becomes "Dances with Wolves"; he is shown to feel that this new title enables him to understand himself, as never before. "Dances with Wolves" also has a friend, "Smiles A Lot"; the names used in the movie reflect to viewers a reality, which is nearly totally a revelation, for us.

1. The movie does not portray the Indians as warriors, (which is the title associated with their name in as recently as the twentieth century); rather, Indians are revealed to be philosophers, thinkers and human being who feel, and possess a soul and admirable sensitivities.