The Power of Influence

Humans  were created with a clean slate, over time people become categorized into different cultures. Those cultures are defined by beliefs, traditions, language and views on the world. This is a culture in its purist form, however in "modern" day cultures have blended and influenced each other, some over powering others and bringing out the best and worst in humanity. Recently in class we have been focusing on how the Native culture has been influenced by the melting pot of American culture.

The documentary Reel Injun, displays the influence of media on the Native cultures of the United States. Through film especially, Native culture has been shaped and molded. The stereotypes of "The Noble Injun", "The Savage Injun" and "The Hippie Injun" have shaped the modern day culture of Natives.  Countless films have had tremendous impact on the culture from the outside-in. The culture of the original Native people is practically unrecognizable today because of this overwhelming influence. The identity of the culture was handed from the natives themselves to the public and media.

In  Ceremony by Leslie Silko, the influence of American culture on Native culture is tracked. The Laguna Pueblo tribe became a whole new culture under the influence of American culture. Tayo, the main character of Ceremony, explains it as Natives becoming invisible and suppressed. The organic culture was much different than the culture that Americans perceived it is. To a majority of the outside world, the Laguna Pueblo becomes drunken, poverty ridden idiots. This perception has been built up over many years of ignorance and mistaken stereotypes. The worlds view of the Laguna Pueblo, and all Native culture, was skewed from its true form due to influences on it. 

Through revealing how Native culture was truly shaped through books and movies Natives are beginning on the long journey to reclaiming their identity and finding a new identity in America and the world.