Cultural understanding and gift exchange in 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.

Conclusion

The need for learning about, and accepting the cultures of others must, essentially, be cultivated in the younger generation, in order to avoid committing the very same mistakes that have been committed by our forbearers and, in fact, by extension, imbued in the present generation as well. We must understand that fighting against one another merely due to some foolish, if mistaken stereotypes and prejudice is meaningless; by doing so, both groups have suffered severe damage and loss, as evidenced by history. We must understand that all of us breathe the very same air, all of us bleed blood of the same color, and all of us dwell on the very same planet. We must ask ourselves the question - If we don't love and take care of one another, who else would do it for us?