Book Review Economy and State a Sociological Perspective...

Book Review: Economy and State: A Sociological Perspective Amanda Oha Liberty University Amanda Oha PPOG 502 Dr. Stewart 08/9/13 Book Review 2 Economy and State: A Sociological Perspective In the book, Economy and State, authors try to connect reader with the inner workings the state and it’s relation to the economy. Unlike most authors, Bandeji and Sowers do not argue for minimal government intervention in economic affairs, but they discuss the relationship of the state and the economy. They argue that the state and the economy forged many types of relationships, which may end in different results. Bandeji and Sowers started to explain this relationship between state and economy in two†¦show more content†¦The state gets involved to prevent economic crisis. Social rights state- the state focuses on the role of protection of its citizens and its social rights. Protectionist state- the state acts in a protective manner Socialist state- It is a mixed between a social rights and protectionist state. In this type of state it is a middle stage, where the government helps prevent the injustice of capitalism. When it comes to the notion of state embeddedness, Bandelji and Sowers posed five questions: How does the state shape the economy? What are the different kinds of state involvement in the economy? What combination of conditions produces a state parasitically feeds on the economy, predatory state? What combination promotes economic growth as a result of development state actions? What combinations help reduce poverty and inequality that help encourage strong welfare? This based upon these two relationships , the Sowers and Bandeji, brings into play how the relationship of state and economy plays into the economic concepts of property and money. The authors bring into play the role of labor and firms as well as development, globalization, and internationalism, which can also shape and have an effect on the relationship between state and economy. It also brings six different areas of interactions. The first is how the state interacts when it comes to property and property rights. The next oneShow MoreRelatedWar : What Is It Good For?1386 Words   |  6 PagesSean Younce Professor Pokas Sociology 101 24 Jun 2015 War: What is it Good for? The three major sociological perspectives have conflicting viewpoints about warfare. The three sociological perspectives provide different interpretations of war. The Structural Functionalists focus on how war unites different peoples as they must work together to survive, as well as how war in general protect the freedom of the masses. Conflict Theorists focus on how militarism runs the world, from creating warRead More Sociology of Racial and Cultural Groups Essay1431 Words   |  6 PagesThree sociological perspectives used in the study of minorities are: Structural functionalism, symbolic interactionalism and conflict theory. These perspectives offer theoretical paradigms for explaining how society influences people, taking into account the social factors that impact on human behavior. However, different theories, ideas, and prejudices can influence a sociologists conclusions. Each of these theories has a contribution to make with a distinct focus. Functional theoryRead MoreWhat Did C. Wright Mills Mean by the â€Å"Sociological Imagination†?2277 Words   |  10 PagesWhat did C. Wright Mills mean by the â€Å"sociological imagination†? C. Wright Mills has been defined by some as the pioneer of the new radical sociology that emerged in the 1950s, in which his book, The Sociological Imagination (1959), has played a crucial role (Restivo 1991, p.61). This essay will attempt to explain what the â€Å"sociological imagination† is, and why it has been important in the development of sociology over the last fifty to sixty years. In order to do this, it will firstly be essentialRead MoreEssay about Sociology1492 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican sociology is fundamentally analytical and empirical; it proposes to examine the way of life of individuals in the societies amp;#8230; prefers to explain institutions and structures in terms of the behavior of individuals and the goals, mental states, and motives which determine the behavior of members of various social groups (pg.5,Aron).; A specialization within Sociology is social stratification. This segment of sociology attempts to deal with the structures of any given society and onesRead MoreInfluence Of Cultural Values On Advertising Essay1124 Words   |  5 Pages Influence of Cultural Values in Advertising Name: Institution: Introduction Commercial products of multinational companies are being marketed to people from different cultures owing to an increased growth in the world economy (Lin, 2012). Samli (1995) states that in most cases, consumer attitudes are largely driven by the framework of their culture. Mooji points out that global marketing strategies are not culture-free and should not be because its influence on consumer behavior is profoundRead MoreThe Social Outcomes Of Digital Information Revolution Essay1562 Words   |  7 PagesAlthough, the digital information revolution is seen as the world’s biggest innovation, it has brought with itself positive and negatives outcomes. It has helped society but it has also damaged it. 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However Dubcek himself was unawareRead MoreCorruption in Bangladesh4749 Words   |  19 PagesTable of contents 1. Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦2 2. Importance of this study†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..4 3. Literature review†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...5 4. Methodology†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.7 5. Findings†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..8 6. Elimination†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..15 7. Impact†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦18 8. Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦20 9. Reference†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..23 Introduction Corruption is a topic of interest and concern in academic circles, in the media, among people of different professions, within the civilRead MoreSignificance of Shays Rebellion1575 Words   |  7 PagesThe Significance of Shays’s Rebellion Pakanun Ou-Udomying (Ploi) United States History Mr. Coulombe Kent School December 10, 2012 The outrageous American Revolution War left a lot of scars and bruises that had major affects on the country. On August 29, 1786 in Massachusetts, a rebellion broke out as one of the results that came after the war. This rebellion was led by a veteran from the American Revolutionary War, Daniel Shays, which was why this significant rebellion is called Shays’sRead MoreResearch Proposal: Depression in Children Adolescence - A Cause for Concern?3274 Words   |  14 Pagesof this social concern is also of great value to the research of this study as I intend on finding out why are our children and adolescents depressed? When carrying out research I found many books on the treatment for depression, with a lack about meanings behind it. I intend on investigating the sociological aspects concerned with depression in children and adolescent so that society can begin to understand more of the reality of its existence. Western societys ideas about childhood and child rearing

William Sumner and Sociology - 1103 Words

This paper will summarize the life of William Sumner and his impact in the field of sociology. It will give a brief background from his birth, to his education, and end with his profession or career. His many contributions to further the field of sociology will be discussed; such as his theories, teachings, and books. The paper will also mention his major influence as well as those he influenced. His interests and pastimes will also be included. Introduction William Graham Sumner was an American historian, economists, political theorist, sociologist, and anthropologist, from New Jersey. Sumner came from a poor and uneducated family but went on to graduate from Yale University and study at Oxford and Gottingen. He was a distinguished writer of numerous books including his most popular Folkways. He made major contributions to sociology that includes the concept of ethnocentrism, the term folkways, and the term mores. Sumner was influenced by his parents but his major influence i n the field of sociology was the English sociologist Herbert Spencer. Also, he influenced many people through his books, essays, and speeches. There are many surprising and interesting facts about William Sumner such as his time as an ordained minister and traveling to Europe to further his studies. Background William Graham Sumner was born on October 30, 1840 in Paterson, New Jersey. He is the son of Thomas Sumner and Sarah Graham. His mother died when William Sumner was eight yearsShow MoreRelatedWilliam Sumner And Jane Addams910 Words   |  4 Pagesis much better off than they were many years ago. William Sumner and Jane Addams were two talented writers, who had different outlooks on social class. William Graham Sumner wrote â€Å"What Social Classes Owe to Each Other† in 1883. Sumner essential question that he asking is, â€Å"What do social classes owe to each other?† he is ultimately saying that they owe each other nothing. In the book he asks vital important questions, which makes you ponder. Sumner was a sociologist at Yale University and a greatRead MoreThe Social Darwinism Of The World War I1311 Words   |  6 Pagescompetition, spread around the globe and found special homes in Germany and the United States. In the United States, a man called William Sumner dressed up Darwinism in the robes of social science. Sumner, who drew much of his philosophy from Herbert Spencer, attempted to portray the struggle for survival as a progressive force in society. In his short essay Sociology, Sumner argues that providing support for the poor is equivalent to subverting natural selection and destroying civilization. Thus, theRead MoreCrime and Punishment Essay1717 Words   |  7 PagesCrime at its simplest is an act prohibited by law upon pain of punishment (Hall-Williams 1964). Theorists such as McCabe (1983:49) stated that no word in legal and criminological terms could define the word crime for the varying content in which an act is categorised. Due to the broad spectrum surrounding crime, differing understandings about human subjects and premises lead to the development of several theories, assumptions and forms of criminal law. Michael and Adler (1933:2) are often citedRead MoreEthnocentrism Is A Basic Attitude Expressing The Belief That One? S Own Culture Essay1731 Words   |  7 Pagesexpressing the belief that one?s own ethnic group or one?s own culture is superior to other ethnic groups or cultures, and that one?s cultural standards can be applied in a universal manner. The term was first used by the American sociologist William Graham Sumner (1840?1910) to describe the view that one?s own culture can be considered central, while other cultures or religious traditions are reduced to a less prominent role. Ethnocentrism is closely related to other attitudinal indicators for racismRead MoreCultural Relativsim vs. Ethnocentrism1190 Words   |  5 Pagesethnocentrism is: Belief in the intrinsic superiority of the nation, culture, or group to which one belongs, often accompanied by feelings of dislike for other groups (ethnocentrism, 2014). The founder of the concept/ principle of ethnocentrism is William Sumner. He believed that the only way for a culture to stay the same is to guard it from outside influences (asanet.org). Ethnocentrism has more negative consequences than positive consequences. The positive aspect of ethnocentrism is that people whoRead MoreSociology : A Sociological Perspective1292 Words   |  6 PagesOrigins of Sociology Ashley Drees Ivy Tech Community College Professor Brosmer April 10,2016 What is Sociology Sociology  is the  study of  social behavior or society, including its origins, development, organization, networks, and institutions. Sociology is a social science that uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about social order, disorder, and change. Three Main Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology Functional Perspective Read MoreReaction Paper About Monetary Policy3087 Words   |  13 Pages1. SOCIOLOGY   is the ordered, logical study of human  society   and its origins, development, organizations, and  institutions.  It is a  social science  which uses various methods of  empirical investigation and  critical analysis   to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity, structures, and functions. A goal for many sociologists is to conduct research which may be applied directly to  social policy  and welfare, while others focus primarily on refining the theoretical understanding of socialRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem The Gospel Of Wealth 2081 Words   |  9 Pagescould not, and succeeded. Both the strike and the Amalgamated Associate were finished.(Foner, 635) A great thinker of the Gilded Age who had similar ideas to Carnegie, albeit more extreme and less based in charity, was a professor from Yale, William Graham Sumner. His ideal, Social Darwinism, like the ideas of Carnegie, involved the idea of there being people in society who are deserving, and those who are undeserving. Unlike Carnegie, however, he assumes all those of lower of wealth are â€Å"worse† thanRead MoreThe American War Of 18981372 Words   |  6 Pagessupporters, viewed imperialism as beneficial or harmful to the oppressed people and the oppressor nation. Many individuals held the belief that imperialism was necessary not only to America, but to the well-being of the acquired territories. President William McKinley accurately conveyed the sentiment of pro-imperialists when he spoke to a church delegation about the reasons for acquiring the Philippines. He expresses that the United States could not return them to Spain for fear of appearing â€Å"cowardlyRead MoreExercise 3: White Collar Crime. In A Looking Glass Of A1448 Words   |  6 Pagesmanipulation to gain these unclaimed resources and keep what they already have possession over. Even though dealing with criminal acts these actions are pushed aside in order to gain and meet quotas and social statues. All these aspects are seen in the sociology world and can be seen in the roles presented in the Libor Scandal. Oddly enough not many white collar criminals have faced serious prison time due to these crimes, this is due to moral ethics and norms of our world constantly changing. Due to many

Dyson Vacuum Cleaner Case Study free essay sample

List the steps involved in the development of the Dyson Vacuum cleaner * Design process * Design brief: designed upon the response of consumers, engineering team, national and international market place * Generating Ideas: several different concepts, produced a large number of sketches * Research and analysis: consider factors such as current market conditions, competitors etc * The process: designers had to balance ideas about how it would function, aesthetics, safety, reliability and cost that does not clog with dust and have replaced the traditional bag. Centrifugal forced in the cyclones spin out dust and debris into the clear bin. The first cyclone spins out larger particles. The shroud separates out fluff and hair and then the inner cyclone spins the minute particles out of the airstream. In this way and due to the unique cyclonic design, The Dyson is able to capture heath-threatening particles such as pollen, dust mite allergens and cigarette smoke. 3 Explain why the vacuum cleaner is considered an innovation â€Å"Rather than copying the existing vacuum cleaner style, James Doyle thought that as the technology was different then the machine should look new and it should reveal its revolutionary technology to the consumer†. We will write a custom essay sample on Dyson Vacuum Cleaner Case Study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The Dyson vacuum cleaner is different to any of vacuum cleaner available to the market therefore it is considered an innovation, using new and improved technology to further enhance the Vacuum cleaner. Evaluate the factors that have contributed to the success of the innovation e. g. government agencies, entrepreneurial activity, economics, nd trends, legal and ethical issues Economic – consumer spending has risen over the past decade so people are more likely to spend money on items that are not essential or necessary, such as a vacuum cleaner. Trends- In today’s society the vacuum cleaner has become more popular and taken over from the traditional cleaning methods. This has meant more people feel the need and ‘pressure’ to own a vacuum cleaner within their household and are more likely to use it. Ethical Issues – In today’s society, people are more concerned about their heath and of the harmful effects that dust and dirt can have. Due to this concern, peple have been purchasing vacuum cleaners to ensure a cleaner environment, leading to better heath. 5. Discuss how emerging technologies have influenced the innovation The emerging technologies such as the two cyclone chambers that cannot clog with dust have replaced the traditional bag and centrifugal forces in the cyclones spin out dust and debris into the clear bin. 6. Evaluate the impact of this innovation on society Vacuum cleaners have allowed society to clean surfaces much more effectively, saving time, effort and energy, allowing them to do other things. They have also improved society’s health and hygiene as they help to remove dirt and dust from areas, providing less bacteria and germs. This ensures that people have a lower risk of getting sick. A negative impact that the vacuum cleaners have on society is that they require electricity to run and operate, which can be harmful and impact on the environment. They are also costly, which therefore affects the economy. Vacuum cleaners have also had a social impact on society in that people may feel pressured into owning one and not feel comfortable sticking to their traditional methods of cleaning.

The gospel according to Black Elk Essay Example For Students

The gospel according to Black Elk Essay My friend, I am going to tell you the story of my life, as you wish; and if it were only the story of my life I think I would not tell it; for what is one man that he should make much of his winters, even when they bend him like a heavy snow? So many other men have lived and shall live that story, to be grass upon the hills. It is the story of all life that is holy and is good to tell, and of us two-leggeds sharing in it with the four-leggeds and the wings of the air and all green things; for these are children of one mother and their father is one Spirit Now that I can see it all from a lonely hilltop, I know it was the story of a mighty vision given to a man too weak to use it; of a holy tree that should have flourished in a peoples heart with flowers and singing birds, and now is withered; and of a peoples dream that died in bloody snow. We will write a custom essay on The gospel according to Black Elk specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now But if the vision was true and mighty, as I know, it is true and mighty yet; for such things are of the spirit, and it is in the darkness of their eyes that men get lost. From Black Elk Speaks In 1876 a young man named Black Elk witnessed the battle for Little Big Horn in which Custer bit the dust and the Seventh Cavalry was wiped out. Later, he experienced the aftermath of the unprovoked massacre of innocent Indian women, children and men at Wounded Knee in 1890they had been dancing a ghost dance, trying to fulfill a vision of Indian renaissance in which all whites would disappear. Black Elk was an Oglala Sioux holy man who decided to tell an Anglo poet his peoples modern history as a living testament to his Lakota society. John G. Neihardt went to the barren hills of South Dakota in 1930 to gather information for The Song of the Messiah, the final narrative poem of his Cycle of the West. I had gone for the purpose of finding some old medicine man who had been active in the Messiah Movement and who might somehow be induced to talk to me about the deeper spiritual significance of the matter, the poet writes in his preface to the book that eventually emerged from his experi ences in South Dakota, Black Elk Speaks. Neihardt reports that, on the day of their first meeting, Black Elkwho was not only active in the Messianic or ghost dance movement, but also a second cousin of the warrior Crazy Horsesaid to him, What I know was given to me for men and it is true and it is beautiful. Soon I shall be under the grass and it will be lost. You were sent to save it, and you must come back so that I can teach you. When he returned the following summer, Neihardts talks with Black Elk were interpreted by the old mans son and then taken down in stenography by Neihardts daughter, Enid. Her notes and transcripts are preserved at the University of Missouri, Columbia. It is the secondhand nature of the book that has produced some controversy. Present debates center on the question of Neihardts literary intrusions into Black Elks system of beliefs, and some scholars have said the book reflects more of Neihardt than it does of Black Elk, explains Vine Deloria Jr. in the introduction to the current University of Nebraska Press edition of the book. Despite these concerns, Black Elk Speaks has become a classic among oral historiesa paean to a suppressed culture and an alternative history of the end of a very long war. This fall, Black Elks story of the true and beautiful had another incarnation with the premiere of a stage version of Black Elk Speaks at the Denver Center Theatre Company. The entire run of the play sold out with the strongest ticket response the Denver company has ever had, and enthusiastic multi-ethnic audiences consistently gave the production emotional ovations. Given the guilt-producing subject of the playthe ruthless subjugation of native peoples from Columbus to Wounded Kneethis reaction might seem odd. But the piece is far from polemicalits witty, entertaining and profoundly moving theatre. And it offers a stem, strong, unsentimental vision of hope. The play departs from the books timeline, giving an overview of the conquest of Native peoples from 1492 to the 20th century, but remains true to the spirit of the original. Playwright Christopher Sergel began working on a theatrical version of Black Elk Speaks in 1974. But it was only last year that he approached Donovan Marley, artistic director of the Denver Center Theatre, with his draft of the play and the original text. The two started to collaborate on the piece, but Sergel died before the first act was completed. Marley and Sergels widow, Gayle Sergel, worked together to finish the play with the help of Aleut actress and choreographer Jane Lind, and Haudenosaunee composer Dennis Yerry. .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085 , .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085 .postImageUrl , .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085 , .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085:hover , .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085:visited , .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085:active { border:0!important; } .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085:active , .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085 .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6fac380ef23de1373ca5adc2daf7e085:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Welcome to Alabama Essay The playthe end result of 12 drafts labored over between May and September of this yearcombines elements of Sioux storytelling with American theatre performance traditions. It is not Native American art, but neither is it merely a European derivative. One important element is the Oglala winter telling style of storytelling. The people sit in a circle and someone starts to tell a familiar story. Anyone can dive in when the narrative arrives at his or her favorite part. Dialogue, when called for, and crowd reactions are also supplied by the participants. Taking a cue from this tradition, Marley arranged his 20-member castmade up entirely of Native American actorsaround a circle or hoop at the beginning of the play. The actors came and went, taking on various roles, participating in a series of vignettes and returning at the end of Act 2 to the circle. Black Elk tells his story to his grandson, a teenager raised in government schools who has been taught to scorn his heritage. As the old man unfolds the story of the native nations, he directs the action. He chooses a young man to play Columbus, warning him to try and figure out how Columbus thought and felt. The same young man then plays a Navajo leader named Manuelito. The scene is intended to convey the Lakota idea of a Navajo warrior, not a Navajo ideal. The distinction is critical and telling. It speaks not only to ethnic diversitytribal particularitiesbut also to the universality of fundamental Indian beliefs. The Sioux warrior is meant to identify with the Navajo warrior. Pan-Indianism, however politically incorrect, is about solidarity when it countsin the defense of native cultures and in the legislation protecting Indian rights. Black Elk points out more than once that when the Indians united against their enemies, they were victorious in battle. He is addressing contemporary Indianswhen they unite today, they win in the courtrooms and in the legislatures. The Native American cast represents many cultures, and when disputes arose in rehearsal over ethnographic details, Marley always resolved them by choosing the Oglala tradition. Black Elks granddaughters and great-grandsons traveled to Denver to help with language, and when Indian language is used in the play it is most often Lakota. Stephen C. Dubray, the Oglala Keeper of Songs who performs in this production, composed some of the pieces distinctly Sioux songs and chose others from the tribes existing repertoire. Rattles, drums and other small objects were contributed by various tribes and are almost ever-present. When battles are fought or people slaughtered, the drums provide chilling sound effects for the stylized movement. Marley has spared no effort to touch as many Indian nations as possible. When an Aleut drum wails mysteriously, it embraces Alaskan natives into this history. Research for the play has been extensive and the drama is rich in irrefutable factual and ethnographic detail. At the Western History Museum in Denver, Marley found a wealth of detail. The Museums collection contains U.S. Army records from the period, including those of Colonel John Chivingtona psychopath who ordered the massacre of a peaceful encampment of Indians at Sand Creek. His men dismembered the bodies of the women and children and displayed the pieces in Denver. Disgusted, his own officers saw to it that he was driven out of the army, though many citizens tried to make him a hero. Although we dont hear specifically about the display of small limbs of the victims in the play, when an Indian woman (Jane Lind) recounts the terror and horror of the massacre at Sand Creek and at Washita River, there is holocaust behind her words. As soon as the firing began, the warriors put the families together trying to protect them. But there were so few young men, and soon they had been killed. The women were desperate, Linds character Yellow Woman says. A few of them ran out to let the soldiers see they were womenand they begged for mercy. Their bodies were mutilated in such a way I cannot say the words. .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad , .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad .postImageUrl , .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad , .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad:hover , .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad:visited , .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad:active { border:0!important; } .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad:active , .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u8633f3aebabf16cfc8c70388e415abad:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Absurdist acting style EssayAssembling such a large cast proved difficult. The Indian tradition does not include performing for an audience. When Indian people dance and sing, Marley said in a recent interview, it is an event that will have religious significance (or daily life significance), but it is participatory. He needed trained actors who could handle, sustain and make interesting the tremendous amount of language in the play. He also had to cast musicians and dancers. He auditioned players in five cities, traveling with Gayle Sergel, Lind and Dennis Yerry. In the end, it cost more to cast Black Elk Speaks than any entire season at the DCTC in the past 10 years. The role of Black Elk went to Ned Romero, a character actor who started out in opera, moved to musical theatre, and then went on to play a variety of Indian film and television roles (Northern Exposure is a recent credit). At 66, he is the same age Black Elk was when he spoke the book. When Romero first saw the script, he turned it down. Im semi-retired, he says, I couldnt believe the amount of work this would entail. But he has found it one of the most inspiring roles of his entire career. Im very humbled by this role, he says. Im not sure how to articulate it. From a purely technical standpoint, it was very difficult. Just repeating some of the words Black Elk spoke. Romero points out that the play reflects the complexity of human nature and history. In fact, the play is not entirely balanced; it generally fails to recognize Indian atrocities and simplifies the causes of Westward expansionwhich were not only about greed or Manifest Destiny, as the play implies. There are good people and bad people in every society and in every walk of life, responds Romero. The Indians did some bad things also. If we were all perfect, we would be in paradise. I like the idea that this was essentially a play about healing wounds rather than about picking sores, Marley elaborates. Theres a wonderful irony about Indians playing white people after a lifetime of watching films in which whites played Indians. I think every artistic project has to validate itself artistically, the director adds. Theres so much pressure now on people who are doing theatre to lower artistic aspirations and standards in order to be inclusive. Both Romero and Marley believe that the chief concern of the play is modern mans disconnection from things that are important. Marley uses the metaphor of the broken hoop as the metaphor for the broken community. Its not only Indian hoops that are broken. Right now we live in a society in which our family hoops are broken, says Marley. We cant go out at night because we are afraidbecause our community hoops are broken. Our national hoops are broken. And everyone who came to this country came because their hoops were broken. And so the power of the piece may have to do with that. Stephen Dubray, who is an Oglala, thought of refusing to participate, but Black Elks family asked him to help tell Grandpas story. So I asked my father and some elders if it would be all right to use some of the songs, he says. I made sure that I did not do anything that would make them feel bad, or make me feel bad. Kiowa/Navajo activist, columnist, actor and television personality John Belindo found his participation in Black Elk Speaks a singular experience. This has taken all of us by surprise, he says. During the whole of the 500-years war, he continues, during the saga of Indian liberation that continues today, American history has had a pro-European bias. The frontiersmen and soldiers are seen as heroes, the settlers as peaceful, and Indians as the villains. But the play offers us a sense of wonder about our culture and a sense of outrage over their destruction. The book is a testament to survival and to the continuation of Native American people, adds Belindo, who plays several white generals as well as Indians in the play. If you look at the sum total of all its parts, Black Elk says that despite the ravages of war, the spirit and the traditions live on. And that is something no force can destroy or obliterate from the face of the earth.