UNIT 0.
INTRODUCTION OF THE SUBJECT
26/01/23
estaba mala, apuntes yaiza
Black Rope:
Three indigenous groups of the film (Hurons, Iroquois and the Algonquians). They had different social organisations.
When it comes to the contact with the Europeans (settlements); Samuel Champlain establishes a trading point in Quebec
(1608).
The film depicts religious colonialism, with missionaries as part of colonial expansions. ‘Agents’ / ‘paws’ of colonial
expansions. They are traders, in particular, they were trappers; the product Europeans were interested in was fur/beavers.
This disrupts the traditional power of balance between the indigenous groups. They exchanged fur for mirrors, guns, etc.
They traded objects but also weapons (this unsettled the traditional order). The Iroquois try to become middle men and
this leads to conflict (Beaver Wars 1642-1698): internal conflicts. Interest in controlling fur trade and becoming middle
men.
The Hurons are trading with the French and the Iroquois are given weapons by the British (and Dutch). European groups
are competing for access (French, British, Dutch). They established contact with Native American groups. A trading
interest is what we have at this point. Colonisation understood as permanent settlement, cultural control, etc becomes a
savage by-product of trade. The end of the Hurons was caused by a conflict with the Iroquois and because of religion; also
physically weakened by disease provoked by contact with Europeans. (La idea de la guerra bacteriológica es algo que ya
ocurría en el territorio americano en el contexto de la guerra de los siete años.)
Power (concept):
Not as a strength (weapons) but it is a strategically position in a particular situation; it is not permanent. This is what the
film portrays. For example, the Father is alone (much more Native Americans) but he is in a strategically position (he
teaches how to write-‘advance’ that gives him the position of power). Another example, such as a mirror, becomes a
strategically position. Also the clock, this is a clear example of this concept of power. “I’ve got greater things to teach
you”; difference in terms of hierarchy, the subject of the knowledge at the centre, paternalistic vision, the ‘I’ vs the
‘Other’. When it comes to binary thinking, these differences create a binarism. This is an inherent part of colonisation.
There is a hierarchy of power. (one is considered superior to the other). Written vs orality, civilised vs savage, culture vs
nature, reality vs dreams, faith vs superstition, truth/History vs stories, Godly vs ungodly.
TASK: Think about some scenes and try to find a key concept to discuss them.
In the forest scene, Father Laforgue is in the forest. He is alone and has no opportunity to survive without help. He is
physically lost but also metaphorically. The key concept associated with this scene is power. Then we have the scene of
the christianity, when they convert to christianity as they fear for themselves. Christiny promises them another
opportunity. The key concept is religion.
Colonial discourse (concept):
A set of statements. It is world-describing but it also constructs. This is exemplified by Father Laforgue.
Ambivalence (concept):
Related to the concept of Colonial discourse. We talk about something that is dual. The colonial discourse is grounded on
the idea that there are intrinsic differences between Europeans and Indigenous groups. But the colonial discourse has
fissures that derived from this duality of Them but at the same time the concept of similarity. They are not that different
when they can convert to Christianity. These tensions of differences and similarities that fissures on the colonial discourse
can be found.“Like that are different from us can be similar but not that similar to us” - Similar but never equal. -
Different but not so different.
Eurocentrism (concept):
The Native Americans are represented in such a way that they remain in that place in our collective imagination (savage).
It is a process that can be conscious or unconscious. Constructed, not natural. Constructed to be superior to ‘others’ by a
binarism. The values and culture are taken as universal and natural. Spread through cultural products. It is part of the
practices and beliefs of Christianity (colonial reasons too).
