Summary:
In Counterculture Indians and the New
Age, Deloria criticizes a white American commune that uses the
stereotypical Indian culture as their counterculture. These White
Americans use Indian beliefs and practices as a way to come about
with their identity crisis, which in turn is seen as a sort of
mocking. To clear up the anxiety within themselves, to find the
“meaning of meaning” as Deloria puts it, the commune turns to
postermodern tendencies. But in their attempts to “play Indian”
they are actually far from living an authentic Indian lifestyle and
are even more so playing out the individualistic way of life.
Contemporary Issue:
Questions:
- “Throughout this history, I have suggested that whenever white Americans have confronted crises of identity, some of them have inevitably turn to Indians.”Looking back on what Deloria says, do you think that the white Americans were merely expressing their appreciation for the culture and have adapted this way of life because of their crises of identity or is it more of a concern regarding appropriation? Is crises of identity a good enough reason to take up the Indian culture?
- In this excerpt that we read, why do you think that as the commune was acting out the Indian lifestyle they were supercharging individualism?
I think this is related to a crisis of identity and and not an appreciation for Indian culture. The people doing this were probably ill-informed and working off of stereotypes. However, I think Deloria is overstating the importance of authenticity. It's a shame that the people weren't better informed, but in America I think we should encourage people to pursue any type of spiritual journey they want. Just because the people "playing Indian" in these communes created a hybrid social experience that wasn't successful doesn't mean we should discourage experimentation. In a global society, saying that you don't want people to reapply and reinterpret your culture is akin to saying you're opposed to the inevitable.
ReplyDeleteThe communes were started as a part of a larger anti-authority, super individualistic movement. Like the article mentioned, the participants were trying to get the best of both worlds. The pile of dust on the floor example illustrates this well.
You bring up a good point. Although I did stand with Deloria on his opinion of the commune falsely representing the Indian community and it did feel like a mockery of their culture, it was mostly the lack of information on their part and experimentation should be encouraged since this country is made up diversity.
DeleteI think it's a little from both crisis of identity and certain degree of appreciation for Indian culture. I agree with Madeleine that experimentations on individual spiritual development should be free. And under that circumstance, most communes turn to Native Americans. As Deloria describes, the communication of the two sides is usually unsuccessful due to the "socially restrictive[ness]" of the Indians. "Indianness" is quite exclusive; it "inevitably required real native people". I think this concept is why Indian cultural appeals to those who have identity crisis so much - the sense of belonging.
ReplyDeleteI regard the communes "acting out the Indian lifestyle" as a phase of their spiritual development. Their main focus is still on themselves.
Question one brings up a very interesting point. Over the course of American history, Americans have struggled with the thought of identity. Our nation is home to an array of races and at times Citizens find it difficult to understand who they really are. Those who stayed at the New Buffalo Commune are an example of Americans using native culture to find personal identity. However, as Deloria mentions, they do not practice true Native American culture. Rather these individuals "want there cake and to eat it to". That is, they enjoyed the individualist practices of Native culture but did not want to deal with every facets of the culture. They enjoyed sitting around a campfire yelling indian chants while they passed joints and beer but not one of them would pick up a pile of dirt off the floor of their common room. Behavior like this causes one to question if the New Buffalo residents were truly embracing indian culture.
ReplyDeleteWow Andy, it seems like you really did your reading! Great work! I agree that the people who stayed at the New Buffalo Commune weren't truly embracing Indian culture. I believe this because it seems more like the people at the commune were picking and choosing what traditions they wanted to practice. If people only practice things so they can reap the benefits then I do not consider them actually trying to embrace the culture.
DeleteIn the article, author stated that "the commune was one of hundreds of places in which counterculture rebels turned to Indians to think about a better way of living together." I believe the commune represented by Indian names, costumes, and tipis supercharged individualism, which many communes disconnected from Indian culture and styles. I think the white Americans express their crises of identity for Indian culture. However, it is not a good enough reason to take up the Indian culture. Each culture or religious belief worships "God" in its own way. Religion pluralism in America implies that exploring a way to unify one religion that incorporate all people and their beliefs, meanwhile having the religious freedom to believe in religions.
ReplyDeleteHello, very interesting questions. I do agree that Deloria seems to falsely interpret the Indian community. I don't agree that it is mockery, however, I do believe there is a bit of ignorance surrounding the interpretation. I feel like as the commune was acting out the Indian lifestyle they were supercharging individualism in a way that is about themselves, meaning that they were more concerned with their own development.
ReplyDelete