Term Paper on "Dances With Wolves"

Term Paper 6 pages (2128 words) Sources: 4

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Dances With Wolves directed by Kevin Costner. Specifically it will contain an analysis of the film and how it uses the western frontier to serve a cultural and political purpose. While Dances With Wolves takes place during and just after the American Civil War, it certainly evokes more modern responses to its content and context. Released in 1990, it took nearly half a year to make, and it came into being just after the Reagan years in the White House, which may explain at least some of its popularity. The film represents the western frontier as it was, but also makes specific social commentaries on behavior of the time, opposed to "politically correct" behavior becoming so popular in the 1980s. The film uses a historic western setting to accomplish very modern objectives - seeing the Native Americans and the land they lost for what it really was, and gaining a greater understanding of just what they lost.

In 1990, when this film was released, western films were certainly out of fashion. In fact, many film experts felt the film would be a flop with the American public, and some even called it "Costner's Folly." One reviewer notes, "This film was released too long after any other great epic Western to be anything but a boondoggle -- or so we thought, until 'Costner's folly' was seen by millions and had won seven Academy Awards."

One of the reasons the film may have become so popular was America's fascination with "cowboy" President Ronald Reagan. Everyone knew Reagan had a ranch in California, rode horses, and had starred in many western films during his Hollywood career. Another writer notes, "Even after he was elected, Reagan maintained his cowboy aura and mystique, even fashioning a foreign policy around the theme of 'standing tall.'"

Reagan's foreign policy sometimes is mostly remembered for his great coup, helping bring about the fall of Communism in the Soviet Union and ending the Cold War. Even then, he seems somewhat "cowboyish" in his determination to bring freedom and equality to the world, just as if he ended his presidency by riding off into the sunset. However, he did have specific foreign policy goals in this area, as another writer notes, "His goals were peace, limitations on the arms race, an actual reduction in the size of the nuclear arsenals and missile systems, good trade relations with Russia, and, generally, a mutually beneficial detente."

Elsewhere in the world, Reagan's policies were not so clear-cut. For example, he approved the Oliver North Iran/Contra affair that funded Contra activities in Central America by selling missiles and weapons to Iran, and many of his other policies led to questions and distress around the world.

Whatever was happening in the world, Reagan still enjoyed immense popularity, and he was often shown wearing western clothing, astride his horse, enjoying the outdoors on his ranch in California. He seemed to epitomize the rugged outdoorsman and explorer of the American west, and the West became fashionable again, in everything from clothing and music to film. Americans seemed to want to see a white man on horseback again, but Costner's film went far beyond the traditional western film. It introduced white characters who were clearly the "bad guys," Native characters who were clearly the "good guys," and depicted a frontier soldier so charmed by the Sioux way of life that he adopts them, and they adopt him. It portrays the Natives in a very sympathetic light, and really helped usher in a new wave of "politically correct" westerns that illustrate just what the Natives had lost as the white man pushed westward and overtook their lands.

The politically correct aspects of this film are numerous, and they illustrate just how Hollywood and the country were changing throughout the 80s. One of the growing concerns among many was animal rights and the ethical treatment of animals, and that is evident in this film. For example, to ensure no animals were hurt during the filming, Costner and others took some extensive steps to ensure safety. Two Socks, the wolf who gives Dunbar his Native name, is played by two wolves, and in the scene where he dies, the wolf is actually safe in a penned area, with shots of smoke simulating the bullets. The horses that were "killed" in the film actually lay down, and then fake blood was used to simulate the injuries. There were also taxidermied animals and road kill used to simulate dead animals, while some of the dead buffalo were actually made of foam latex.

Finally, "To prevent any possible animal cruelty Kevin Costner's Tig Productions spent $250,000 on animatronic buffalo to be used in the climactic buffalo hunt."

The animals rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) was founded in 1980, and by 1990, when the film was released; it had gained widespread notoriety for its work for animal rights. Thus, it was more important for filmmakers to make sure they did not harm animals on the set, and this was a major concern for this film, since so many animals were involved. In the end, no animals were harmed in the film.

The film attempted to portray a "kindler, gentler" Native American, another aspect of the era that was extremely timely. Another author notes, "Politically, Dances With Wolves was timely: in August of the same year, Congress declared November as American Indian Heritage Month; by October, they passed the Native American Languages Act, followed by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act."

Thus, Americans were becoming much more aware of the Natives and their culture at a time when this film presented them in highly favorable light. The film added to common knowledge, but it also helped make the Natives more sympathetic, and it created an aura of interest and awareness that still exists in many people today. Therefore, it was entertaining, but it provided very relevant social context, as well.

Any other events/conflicts going on in the world that might that have had an influence on the movie can be mentioned.

One of the most important aspects of the film was its portrayal of Native Americans. However, it also relied heavily on Native American actors, which was unusual in a western film. Again, this was timely due to the occurrences going on across the nation and in government, but it showed a much deeper respect for the Natives and the things they endured at the hands of the whites. Another writer states, "Indians know that no white man or woman can become Indian, but many of us hope those who have learned of our cultures and appreciate their unique humanity will be our friends and allies in protecting the earth and all of her children."

Because of Costner's attention to detail and cultural awareness, several Native tribes welcomed him into their group or gave him special honors, and honored the film as well. The film accurately portrayed many aspects of life on the prairies before the white man overtook them, and shows that essentially, many of the Native tribes lived relatively peaceful lives and were dependent on the land and the animals of the land. The film also showed that they recognized the dangers the whites represented, and that their way of life might be coming to an end. Sadly, they were right, and this film makes it very clear just how much they lost when the white man took over their lands and their lives.

There is another interesting aspect to the country and the world when this film came out. Women were still fighting for equality, and Reagan did not support the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) for women. However, he did believe women should serve in his administration, and he planned to make sure that happened. Reagan himself said, "And I'll tell you something else: I have long believed, since my days as a governor, that it is high time for a woman to be on the United States Supreme Court, and in my administration, there will be such an appointment."

Even today, the ERA still has not been ratified by enough states to place it in the Constitution, and it certainly did not make much headway under Reagan's administration.

However, this film uses the political and social context of a strong, proud, fierce-willed woman, Stands With a Fist, who must relive her turbulent childhood in an attempt to meld her Sioux world with her past. She was capture by the Sioux when she was young, and has since become a complete part of their society, and yet, she falls in love with a white man, and blends the cultures together perfectly. She is clearly a strong, viable woman, portrayed at a time when women were entering the workforce in record numbers and actively fighting for equal rights and equal pay. She represents a growing faction in society, another aspect of the film's social and political impact.

It is important to recognize that this film… READ MORE

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