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Post by Dietmar on Jun 30, 2008 17:01:02 GMT -5
The Kansas State Historical Society has a wonderful article by Joseph B. Herring online: Selling the "Noble Savage" Myth - George Catlin and the Iowa Indians in Europe, 1843-1845www.kshs.org/publicat/history/2006winter_herring.pdf(ATTENTION: this pdf has 28 MB) While many Kansans might be familiar with the work of nineteenth century artist George Catlin, it is doubtful that they are also familiar with Catlin’s decision to tour Europe with a band of “wild Indians” and to promote “a mythical image of Native Americans for profit.” Historian Joseph B. Herring tells the story of Catlin and a group of Iowa Indians (who lived in what would be the present-day Kansas-Nebraska border along the Missouri River) trip through Europe. The Iowas who went to Europe did so with their own motivations. Like Catlin, they were interested in making a profit, and many were weary of the American customs that were entering their village. For a time, Catlin and his show were well received abroad, particularly by some members of the French upper class. However, audiences soon became disenchanted with the myth of the noble savage, and both Catlin and the Iowas returned home with little more than souvenirs to show for their long journey.www.kshs.org/publicat/history/online.htm
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Post by wolfgang911 on Mar 16, 2009 16:37:37 GMT -5
interesting but not wonderful
I just red the article of herring and compounds all arguments he can find to criticize Catlin : it is very easy to read over the article and see how he uses arguments in both directions : for some the iowa were a bunch of ugly alcoholics (audubon & co) with nothing left of their tribal ways , the author states that they had married most of the white ways in early 19th (??) and that they had nothing left to show in england then he cites other exemples late 1840's (the 2 missionaries for instance) who had little success with the iowa as attached as they were to their very refined traditions and religion. well a lot of citations and knwoledge but if your goal is just to make a puff of catlin , worthless. catlin was 1 of the first to realise that yellowstone like sanctuaries (with or without indians..) should be preserved, his paintings are beautiful and of unmatched information such as that from bodmer. the article is tendacious and biased. just to focus on the iowa trip is stupid. anyway I'm dutch and in france they all think we ride bikes and wear wooden shoes. if his iowa reprentation were not 100% who cares. catlin rules for all the rest
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