Spaces and Exchanges

SPACES AND EXCHANGE

The notion I am going to deal with is « Spaces and Exchanges ».

This notion deals with the idea of giving one thing and receiving another in return, but also with the places where these exchanges take place.

To illustrate the notion, I have chosen to talk about the Wild West in the USA. As a matter of fact, immigration is considered as a form of exchange. Most of the time, people immigrate to find a better life, but looking back at the Wild West period, we can ask ourselves what was the price of this western conquest?

I would like to take a few examples to show to what extent this conquest has been a difficult period.

If we take a look at John Gast’s painting called “American Progress”, we can see a peaceful scene of people moving West, led by an angel woman who seems to bring all the eastern technology along with her. But looking closer to the left part of that same painting, we can see a darker side of it, showing wild animals and Indians running away from their land.

As a matter of fact, the pioneers took the west for granted. They ignored the existence of a whole population of native Americans. We can even talk about genocide. To defend themselves, Indians often had to kidnap women and children. This created great animosity. In the movie, “the Searchers”, 2 angry men run after Indians, who killed part of their family and kidnaped a young girl. The girl was then raised by Indians, which created confusion among the men, because the girl had become half American and half Indian. During the conquest, many Indians and American were enemies, but some of them became friends.  

This animosity also existed among Americans. During that time, it was difficult for this population to get along. People were coming from different countries, had different religions and different cultures. In the movie: “The revenant”, the trapper, Hugh Glass is severely injured and left for dead by a traitor in his team. Thanks to his will and his desire of revenge, he will survive in a hostile environment, and Indians warriors.

To conclude, I will say that when I was a young boy, I watched western movies on TV. There was no doubt about the fact that the cow boys were the good ones and the Indians the bad ones. As a little boy, I was amazed watching horses, and guns and people fighting.

But today, knowing a bit more about the story of wild west I really think it was a terrible period of American history. The conquest of the wide west was a good economical idea but should have taken place with more negotiations and respect for the native populations.

PLAN:

Intro + problématique

Give a definition of Exchange and places

Talk about The wild west to illustrate this notion

Give several examples showing the high price of this western conquest

Partie 1

The conquest may seem a good and peaceful thing

→ ex John Gast’s painting called “American Progress”,

Partie 2

It was a war between Americans and Native Indians with mixing sometimes

→ ex The Searchers → the kidnaped girl who became half indian.

Partie 3

Animosity between americans too. Differences

→ ex The Revenant – Hugh Glass who want to revenge from a traitor who left him for dead.

Conclusion

Western on TV is different for reality.

The Wild West was a terrible period of American History

It could happen with more negotiation and respect.

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