Little Women Reflection

Although I had heard much about this novel, I had not taken the time to read Louisa May Alcott's Little Women until I was required to do so for this class.  I agree with many of the other students in our class that many of the "lessons" this book attempts to teach are now quite outdated; however, I think this book is still relevant to our society in many ways.  I found the bold statements Alcott made about feminism and conformity particularly interesting.  By making Jo the main character of the novel, Alcott seemed to be trying to advocate nonconformity.  This lesson is definitely still one that many books, movies, and television continue to stress.  Individuality has become increasingly respected and encouraged in our society, unlike the conformity and suppression of personality that was all too common in the 1860's.  Because rebellion is so valued throughout the novel, Alcott contradicts much of how the women of her time were expected to behave.  I also find it particularly interesting that many consider this novel to be somewhat of an autobiography.  Alcott, like Jo, struggled to adopt typical feminine characteristics and behaviors and was forced to suppress her desire to fight in the civil war.  I thoroughly enjoyed the way Alcott portrayed Jo.

Little Women Reflection

As many people have already said, by reading this book and discussing it in discussion as well as lecture it is easy to see why most every American to this day has heard of this book in some way or another. At the time the book was written you can clearly see the values the author is trying to portray through the characters. From the girls they all play a very significant role in the book. From Jo's tomboyish characteristics to Amy's ladylike aspirations they all have very unique characteristics that are significant when analyzing the time period the book was written in. Another character that I found interesting after we discussed it in class was Hannah, the March's servant.
This book is a classic novel that was written in a time where women were seemingly having trouble identifying themselves with society, and had this book to look to. Although this is an undeniably beautifully written and very significant book of it's time, I find it to be outdated to this day in age. There are specific things that can be taken away from it, but it is no longer the "guide to being a lady" that it once was. Jo's tomboyish and rebellious character would not be frowned upon in society today nearly as much as it once was. The need to be absolutely "lady-like" has become very different. Women and girls are still very lady-like in todays society, however there is no need to be the perfect lady while growing up, there is much more room to grow into one's own it seems. All in all this book was very interesting and fun to read, as well with the help of discussion it's significance to society back when it was written and to this day is very clear.

Killing Custer Reflection

James Welch's account of the strained relations between the white American settlers and the Native Americans during the 19th century sheds light on one of the most misunderstood relationships in American history. Although Welch delves deep into the alleged mistreatment of the American Indians by the white settlers that has been largely ignored by the mass media, the anti-American and pro-Native American biases he displays force the reader to take his writings with a grain of salt.
It makes sense that the United States would use the American defeat at Little Big Horn as a rallying cry to gain support for the westward and southward expansion of the nation, in much the same way the media used the "attack" on the USS Maine to rally the troops and gain support for the Spanish-American War. Throughout history, governments and media outlets have opportunistically taken advantage of events by manipulating their portrayals to the public and using them to persuade the public to back certain causes. Although this seems highly unethical, it has consistently been a highly effective method to galvanize a nation's people. Transforming ambiguous events into attacks against the national establishment, like the media was able to do by the way they framed "Custer's Last Stand", provides an effective way to sway a nation from ambivalence to passion. Welch fails to recognize that manipulating events in order to curry favor with the people has been and will continue to be a powerful governmental tactic.

Little Women Reflection

It is easy to see why "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott has been coined as an American classic novel. Although the language and the daily occurrences seem antiquated, the morals and values of the characters, such as family life, health, and happiness, are still prevalent in today's society, making this a timeless novel. The main characters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, all represent a different part of the proper (or in Jo's case, not so proper) woman of the time. It is interesting to reflect on how the role of women in America has changed since the time of the Civil War when the novel was written; however, many of the same values instilled in American women have remained the same. 

What I loved most about reading Little Women was the innocence reflected in the characters. In a time before television, Internet, cell phones, and blackberry's it was easy to stay young without contact from the outside world. It was like these girls (and Laurie) lived in their own little innocent bubble away from the violence and sex that we are exposed to in the media today. Instead, they created secret societies, and painted and read to pass the time. They took pride in pleasing Marmee and father.

I think that the technology of the Information Age of today has forced us to mature much faster than the children in the novel did. Without being exposed to such forms of technology, it was easy to stay innocent. Most of all, I thought it was relieving to read a novel like this. 

Little Women Reflection

"Little Women" Reflection Post

"Little Women" was an interesting novel that has been extremely influential throughout previous generations, and our generation today. The four sisters in this book all represent the various aspects and qualities of a woman, and her role in society. However, instead of simply being a guidebook for how women should act, Alcott instead chooses to introduce the reader to different characters. After the audience immediately develops an emotional attachment to their struggles and successes, it is easy to gauge the message Alcott was attempting to send to her audience at the time.
The juxtaposition between Jo and Beth shows the spectrum of appropriate women at that time period. Both Beth and Jo are very likable characters. Beth is perfect on paper; every parent's dream in a sense. Jo, on the other hand, tests the boundaries. Alcott makes Jo very likable, but she is a also a bit of a tomboy. The novel insinuates that despite her differences, Jo is still a great person, and a successful woman. Despite the fact that the novel is a clear guide by which women should strive to follow, Alcott does try to send home the message that it is the morality and heart of a woman that matters most.
Unfortunately, I believe this guidebook for women is outdated. Society has vastly changed, as none of Jo's actions now would be really seen as that unusual. It has a very traditional sense of culture attached to it, and I think this book would now be considered anachronistic. Despite being considered a classic, the novel is definitely more read for entertainment purposes as opposed to a guidebook, which was Alcott's intention. There are still some sects of society that would embrace the traditional sense of womenhood that the book promotes. However, I think it is still a little much to think that this book still has the power to effectively change the roles of women in today's society.

"Killin Custer" Reflection

James Welch's historical novel provides a stark contrast to the traditional American view of General Custer and the Battle of Little Bighorn. Welch's novel sheds another viewpoint on the trajedy that took place during the Battle of Little Bighorn. Instead of another book from the viewpoint of the whites, Welch's novel is from the viewpoint of the under-represented Native Americans. For this reason, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and found it very interesting. On top of this, it has drastically changed my opinion of the battle, and the Native Americans as a whole.

After reading this novel, my opinion of General Custer, the Battle of Little Bighorn, and the Native Americans has drastically changed. Before reading the novel, and taking this class, I had always thought of General Custer as a hero, and that the Battle of Little Bighorn was just another blunt example of the Native American's savagery, or at least the savagery that the American society portrays the Indians as having. Having now read this novel, I now believe that the whites were the savages, and the Natives, worn down by the concept of manifest destiny, were just defending themselves and trying to protect their land. Also, I believe that General Custer should be stripped of his heroic standing as he often killed innocent people, including women and children. This novel showed the many reasons not usually talked about in novels written by white Americans, that the Indians had for attacking General Custer's army. This novel provided many sad truths about the whites, and has drastically changed my opinion of the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Overall, while I thought the novel was very interesting and enjoyable, I found it difficult to read. Welch used a very unique approach to writing as he switched back and forth between time periods quite often making it very hard to know exactly what was going on. Other than that, I thought the novel was very good.

Little Women Reflection

At this point it is pretty clear that the most consistent and predominant theme throughout "Little Women" is women's struggle between their family duties and individuality. In many instances, we see that the the pursuit of individuality by some of the March girls (Jo and Amy) in particular are heavily restrained by their family obligations. This is especially true for this time period when men were dutifully serving the country at war. While Amy and jo initially attempt to break away from the stereotypes that society at this time placed on all women, they eventually found themselves conforming to the norm by marrying and settling in to more traditional lifestyles. With that said, I believe that there has really not been much change in gendered roles from then to now. Of course women are publicly regarded more as equals and take on many of the same roles that men do, but there are still a vast majority of women who eventually fill the traditional mold. The difference is that the adherence to this traditional role may spring up later in the female life, being that most people today tend to express their individualism during the college years and even through the mid twenties to earl thirties. Eventually, however, women naturally fill their familial duties when they marry and have children.

Reflection on Killing Custer By James Welch

For me, the sections that we read about the Plains Indians and the Indian Wars in Kiiling Custer explained a complicated situation of racialization, miscommunication, pride and (dis)honor.  Though it was very clear that the United States government needed to obtain the land occupied by the Plains Indians, it was unclear how exactly the nation wanted this to occur, and action seemed to be taken without any consensus, led by the militarism that had forged so much of the national identity so far.  In the same way, I thought that the Indians too understood what they wanted: to be respected as a culture, and to be able to live as freely as possible, though the many different nations that comprised the whole of the Plains Indians had so many different ideas about what was best for their tribes and peoples that again, a lack of consensus led directly to confrontation with the white America.

In particular, I enjoyed the writing style of the author, and thought that the bias that it could be said to have was obvious and informative to the overall story.  The minority viewpoint (in this case, the viewpoint of the Indians who effectively “lost” the war, their land, and significant pieces of their identities), is inherently thought of as biased, because its not what we are used to hearing, and it was not the story that was constructed for us to believe in.  Especially in the context of the 4^th chapter, I thought that the author’s narrative about the Custer Battlefield National Monument, and the change to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, brought to light many of the fact that many of the issues that plagued Native Americans in the past continue to be serious issues today.  To me the discussion highlighted that Native Americans still serve a specific purpose to the nation today, and their identities are still left outside of the national construction.  Though the monument was on land that belonged to the Crows, Americans were outraged that they had the ability to close the roads.  Likewise, the author points out that Indians from all over America come to the site to show their children that something good happened to their people on that place, and that life on the reservations today, unless that reservation offers gambling, is incredibly bleak and difficult. 

In sum, I thought that the book both offered a new viewpoint to the history of both Americas relationship to the Indians, as well as the way the nation was forged through war.  Important questions about Indian and American identity in the present are raised as well, asking whether or not reservation life and government paternalism of Indian people creates an effective relationship for the two groups in the future. 

Thinking of Custer

After reading Killing Custer, I really began to think about what it means to be an American. I realize that “what is an American?” is one of the main themes in this course, but until I read this book I really didn’t understand how packed of a question this is. America is the land of the free, home of the brave; we stand for freedom, peace, and liberty. We all hear these phrases as children and we feel a sense of pride about being an American and living in such a prosperous and innovative nation. Would we really carry this continuing sense of pride to such an extreme if we actually begin to recognize the things that we did in order to become the nation we are today?
The land of the free? The “real” Americans, the Native Americans, were rounded up, herded off, and put on reservations in the name of national progress and expansion. The same people the Europeans idolized for their free manner and connection to the land were the same ones who stripped them of these characteristics. Home of the Brave? What do we consider brave? The slaughtering of Natives over sometimes false claims of aggression? Do we consider Custer brave? History books and tales of life one the frontier certainly seems to put him in a positive light. He was our great martyr of 19th century expansion. After reading Killing Custer I feel that “The Custer Myth” should be broken. It showed his flaws, especially his reckless behavior concerning not only his troop but his self, and really showed his treatment towards the Native Americans.
In so many ways this book made me realize even more that history is told by the winners of a war, and not by the losers. This book definitely gave a voice to the Native Americans, who for so long had been silenced. I am proud to be an American. There is no other place I would want to live, but it makes me cringe when I think of the fact that I live on the soil of a people that were murdered, demoralized, and in some ways forgotten about. After reading this book, I wish again that the books that we once read in our middle and high schools had a more even account of history, not just from the stand point of white America.

Little Women Reflection Post

I have been thinking about the novel "Little Women" and how it is said to be a guide for women of its time. Certain characters in the novel, Meg, certainly embody what a woman was like during this time period but I feel that the other characters do not serve the same purpose. Jo is the first character that comes to mind who would not fit a model of a woman in the 1800s. Her masculine characteristics would have been frowned upon in most settings. I feel that the inclusion of Jo in this book serves not as a guide but a possibility. Alcott is portraying women in many different ways and I believe she is telling women of the time that there is more than one way to act. She does not go as far to say that this is how women should act, but the contrast in behaviors between Meg and Jo shows that there is some wiggle room.
In regard to our discussion about the difference between the way women acted in the 1800s and the way they act now, I feel that there has only been a small amount of change. Women today are more liberal in their speech, dress, and sometimes actions, but it seems that in the upper/middle class societies women share the same characteristics of the 1800s. Women in these settings can still be seen dressing in gowns, living at home until marriage, and being over-all reserved. I am not trying to argue that there has been no change in the past 20o years, I am merely suggesting that in certain settings one can see the past in the present.

Reflection

Before reading Killing Custer, I have never heard of the “Custer Myth”. So as I read the novel I wondered if the myth has slowly disappeared. I decided to ask several of my friends and classmates and they too have not heard of the myth. This made me wonder on whether the memories of heroes really do last longer than a few decades. Of course there are those individuals whose name and contribution no one will forget, but those individuals make up a very small percentage of history’s heroes. This idea complements this past week’s discussion question on which heroes legacies really do stay alive amongst society and whether the hero’s true character is distorted.

Many of my past history teachers have consistently complained that it is difficult to study history since it is all practically written from a bias perspective. History has been written by dominant white males, who have tried to justify white supremacy. I wonder if history books would have been differently written if an African-American’s or Native American’s were able to contribute. This is obviously a very abstract idea to imagine but it does raise many questions. Would the Native Americans have different lives if the truth was written in the East coasts paper? Most likely not, but history books today would not glorify America has much. Welch tries to show the audience a different historical viewpoint and he accomplishes it by showcasing factual information that many individuals would rather not be addressed.

I believe that many people turn their cheek when it comes to truth about our history’s past. Whether it has to deal with slavery or the Native Americans, individuals like to portray their nation as best as possible. This distortion of history does not only happen in America but as well as in other countries. For example, in the communist countries during the Soviet Union era, teachers were forced to teach kids a distorted idea about the Russians during World War II. This thought is very disturbing and it makes me question today’s media. Will history books try justifying the Iraq War? Will the white man once again be idealized as a hero? Only time will tell, but it is an interesting thought to take into account.

"Killing Custer" Reaction/Reflection Post

I found Welch's "Killing Custer" to be an enlightening novel with a very clear message about the untold story of the Plains Indians, as well as the influence that society has on the written documentation of history.  While there were obviously mixed feelings in our class discussion about bias in Welch's presentation of this period of history, I believe that there inevitably was.  I also believe that to fully understand the ongoing conflict between the Americans and the Indians, one must first understand the context from which both sides were coming at that time.  

Because Welch was himself a descendent of American Plains Indians, I think that his intentions for writing this novel were different than other historical authors.  He was writing not only to expose history that he felt was under-recognized, but also to rightfully inform his readers about the suffering and hardships that his ancestors were subjected to as a direct result of the imposing white settlers.  This in itself is cause for some sort of bias in terms of his own personal emotions fueling his argument.  However, as we also discussed in class, I think that Welch emphasized this bias in order to make a point about the bias that exists is all recorded history.

I agree with Welch's underlying point that the history of The Battle of Little Bighorn was recorded as the American's saw it during this time, which left out all accounts of Indian suffering.  While this most definitely concerns me, I also believe that it is important to understand the intentions of Americans at that time as they saw them, not as how we see them today by reviewing history.  While it does not justify the Americans actions by any means, I believe that they viewed their own behavior as a means of fulfilling the inevitable expansion west--not as merely killing to kill.  Welch does not discuss this side of his argument, however I believe he does a great job of describing the untold side of Native American history.  Overall, it was an enjoyable read!

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My name is Russell Arco and I am currently a second semester senior majoring in Communications Studies. Next year I hope to work as a broker for a commercial real estate firm in new york.

The Idea of Performing

After last weeks discussion of "performance", I was more aware of performing while I was reading Killing Custer. The idea of performance has come up several times throughout the semester in various readings. We saw an obvious performance in Confederates in the Attic where men reenacted or "performed" civil war events. Then we saw men dressing up as Indians, disguising themselves as part of a grand performance, and last week we saw the four little women making a club where masculinity was being performed (very devious for the gender roles at the time); however, they were just "playing" or "performing" so it was acceptable.

There is a great deal of performance when it comes to Custer and the Battle of Little Bighorn. Firstly, the whole Custer myth is based on a performance that is falsely remembered as legendary. Because Custer died in battle fighting for his country, his performance will be remembered and will remain a legend. Also, the battle was a series of performances and despite the fact that the Native Americans performed better, Custer in a sense won, at least he won the title of a martyr. This concept of performance is very much present in the readings and usually has some degree of controversy surrounding it, whether it fuels a rebellion or aggravates the social construction of gender roles.

Reflections and "Killing Custer" response

First off, the lectures so far have been pretty good. Professor Hass is very charismatic about her lectures which makes it that much more enjoyable. Our discussion has also been very good. I feel like there is a wide range of participation, and for the most part, everyone seems like they are doing most of the readings (it is always tough to read that much). I like the definitions that we talk about because there are words that are constantly used in lecture that many people, including me, do not know. It helps us relate to the material better when we know the definitions of the words. I also like the full group discussion, and I feel that I benefited the most from doing this in discussion.

I thought "Killing Custer" was a very interesting book overall. I did not like the way the books was written, simply because it gets confusing at time, but I did enjoy the different insight that the author gave. He gives us a history from the Native Americans' perspective, but also provides facts to back up all his information. I think he has a legitimate argument with his ideas, because many of us do see Custer as a huge war hero, and many of us think that without knowing all of the information. I think the author makes us, as readers, to step back from what we think we know, and re-think about the events that took place. Even if you do not agree with all of his arguments, it at least makes you think about his point of view. I also thought the questions that were posted today ignited a pretty good discussion and made people really think hard about the book itself. Overall, interesting read and good discussion.

"Killing Custer" Reflection Post

Before I began reading this book I was slightly aware of the process that American authors of text books and educational materials take to change history to be seen in a better light regarding Americans. All the text books I read in middle school and high school praise American achievement and leave little to the imagination of the experience and outcome of other nations and individuals involved in historical American events. We usually don't notice this when we're in a history class but it became evident after a while that a lot of historical events are exaggerated, manipulated, and sugar coated in some cases to make certain cultures appear superior to others.
I was involved in a program at the University of Michigan through the school of social work a few years ago that dealt with and talked about segregation in the Detroit Metropolitan area. I remember this issue came up in one of the discussions we were having. One of the participants pointed out why we only learn about the WASP (white anglo-saxon protestant) culture in schools and not other cultures. After all America is composed of numerous cultures which is what makes it such a divine and unique nation. After he said this (in which many others agreed), I began to notice more and more how many cultural view points in American history are only briefly mentioned or left out altogether in textbooks.
While reading "Killing Custer" I immediately understood Welch's argument. He not only shows the event of The Battle of Little Bighorn from Native's perspective, but also shows his readers how purposely the view point of Native's is left out while we learn about this battle in school. He also points out how Native's during that era are usually depicted as violent, heartless individuals. It almost seems that someone learning about this event can't help but view Natives as evil and the enemy without thinking that there might be another side to the story. It also seems that some of these text books and educational references brainwash the public into thinking a certain way about Americans and another about other cultures involved in American history.

Test

Hi, I'm Josh Meyer, and I'm a senior majoring in Economics and Psychology. I signed up late for this class, but I'm really looking forward to catching up and learning about the course material.

Killing Custer Reflection

Welch's Killing Custer offers insight into the United States' need for the "Custer Myth" following the appearance of the limitations the Aryan race faced in their claims of racial superiority. The historical background the novel offers makes note of the United States' "white civilization's" desire to spread their society and assimilate Native Americans within their culture. However, while I respect Welch's attempts to create a distinction between the chiefs Red Cloud and Sitting Bull, I find his overall analysis on the rift lacking. Primarily, with regards to the Treaty of 1868, the Lakota representatives did not have authority to sign away any land or agree to treaty terms. The idea that one chief represented the entire people was primarily an ethnocentric view held by the white Euro-Americans. I feel as though it is imperative to make such distinctions; the portrayal of Native American chiefs in the novel makes it appear as though these chiefs were in possession of more power than they actually had. Although Welch acknowledges that the American government was incorrect in their assumption that Red Cloud and Spotted Tail spoke for all Indians, he does not make clear that even within their own tribes, the chiefs lacked any great political power.
In the novel, Welch stated that the Sioux believed that the main violation of the Treaty of 1868 occurred over the Black Hills, which was an extremely sacred area in Sioux culture. I find it extremely interesting (and also disturbing) that this area remains one of contention between the Sioux and the United States' federal government today. Over the years, non-Native American residents and businesses have made a push to make use of the Black Hills region for recreational and mining purposes. Today, the government acknowledges the crimes committed against the Sioux and other Indian tribes throughout American history, yet it still fails to grant the Native Americans their basic desire of the maintenance their sacred lands free from outside activity. Native Americans have been offered monetary compensation over the past few decades, but many are unwilling to accept the payments, despite their desperate need for funds, because of the importance of their religion. It is rather astonishing that the battle for the Black Hills, which began over one hundred years ago, still continues today.

Killing Custer Questions for Discussion

1. Why did the author choose to begin six year before Little Bighorn? What is the significance of the Marias Massacre?

 

 

 

2. The author mentions that history is mainly written by white males. Do you agree with this statement? Do you think the author has any bias? 

 

 

 

3. The American economy had a great impact not only on the American people, but how the government treated Native Americans.  Find examples in the text of how the growth of the economy ushered out the Native Americans.  

 

 

 

4. The media played a big in role shaping Americans viewpoints towards the Native Americans.  Do you think that the Media’s biases were written on purpose?   On page 192 the author claims, “I have quoted the Tribune article at length because it reflects the quality of journalism of the day.  First, it is clear that there is no attempt at impartiality in the account.  Second, in portraying the Indian fighters as ‘red devils…’” How did the media add or shape the country’s view of Little Bighorn?

 

 

 

5. Why is Colonel Custer revered and remembered when he failed at carrying out his duties?  How is Colonel Custer seen in American Society?

 

 

 

6. The author continuously brings up “Manifest Destiny” throughout the book.  What is the definition of a “Manifest Destiny?”  What do the Native Americans think of a “Manifest Destiny” as opposed to America’s view of it? 

 

 

 

7. Chapter 4 is entirely dedicated to The Little Bighorn Monument.  What is the significance of this chapter?  Why did the author deem the monument so important?

 

 

 

8. “‘Boy General’ had become an object of ridicule and hatred among officers and men alike.”  What effect do you think this period of Custer’s army had on the way Custer led his troops?

 

 

9. Custer was deemed a hero because he died in battle. If he had lived would he be remembered today?  Are we more likely to remember the actions of a hero who is killed than one who survives?  Why do you think that is?

 

 

 

10. How was the national economy changing in 1873? What did this mean for the plains Indians?

 

 

 

11. Who were the real “savages”, the Indians or the white settlers? Why didn’t the Indians celebrate their victory at the Battle of Little Bighorn?

 

 

 

12.How were Chiefs Red Cloud and Spotted Tail different from Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse? How did each feel they were doing the right thing for their people?

 

 

 

13.  The author’s style of writing is unique in that he oscillates between past and present.  What effect do you believe this style has?  Did you, as a reader, find it easier to read?  

Little Women (Reflection)

Little Women (Reflection Post)

One aspect that I did not think we discussed thoroughly in class was the representation of Beth in the novel.  I remember the professor saying that Beth is the perfect women and in the end dies.  The professor went on to say that Beth exemplifies the fact that there never is a perfect woman.  Which I think is a very intriguing concept that the author put forth.  If there can never be a perfect women than why did the author write a novel on perfecting a woman’s behavior?  The author brings out a point that would be considered iconoclastic during this time.  Was there any opposition for this novel?

            Another aspect that I feel would have been iconoclastic is Jo’s character in general.  The way I read the book, I loved Jo as a character and wanted Jo and Laurie to marry.  It seem as if Alcott wanted the reader to sympathize with Jo instead of with the other “Little Women.”  Which was not the perceived goal of the novel.  Although, it appears that Alcott wrote a book on women’s manners, I see it also as a book that proves one can have manners, but also break the rules.

Killing Custer Reflection

I found the novel Killing Custer by James Welch to be, for the lack of a better word, winding. He jumps from story to story, from past to present, throughout the text, making this book sometimes hard to follow. Even so, I did enjoy reading about this historical story from the Indian point of view. I find it heart wrenching to read about how these native people were forced from their lands and stripped of their traditions. I know some of the things they did seemed "savage" but when you look at it in the context of their beliefs and motivations, it seems less so. I found the fact that they did not celebrate their victory at Little Bighorn very interesting. They were too busy mourning their losses and their dead, to celebrate.
Before this book I had never heard of "the Custer myth". It is amazing to me how the media and the papers twisted the truth to meet their needs, and tell the story they wanted to convey, back then just like they do today. In those days there were fewer ways for people to communicate, so it was probably easy to tell a story, make it say what you wanted, and never have anyone refute it.
The novel made Custer sound more like a hero wanna-be than an actual hero to me. He wanted the glory, and he put it above all else, even the lives of the soldiers who depended on him. He would probably have been happy with the stories that were told about him and the myth that was created. I am sure he would disapprove of this novel and how it tells of his failures. I am glad that this story was told, not only to stick it to Custer, but mostly to tell the stories and struggles of the Plains Indians.

Little Women Reflection Post

I have been thinking about our discussion on Thursday a little, especially about whether or not we would give the book Little Women to our children to read. Little Women is a book that is special to me because as a child my mom gave it to me to read. I loved it so much, I was fascinated by the lifestyle of the 1800s and I wanted to be like all of the girls. At just 9 or 10 years old, the book taught me a lot. I started to appreciate the things that I had in my life (cars, phone, tv, etc) and realize that these luxuries weren't always around. I also gained a sense of how far women had come since those days, as I realized that the girls in the novel didn't get to play softball and do gymnastics and go to movies and hang out with their friends like I did. I just think that this book is such a great thing to give to a young girl. As children, we probably aren't aware of the more dramatic books out there (Gossip Girl, etc) and if something like Little Women is put in our hands first, we are certain to appreciate it. If we are so worried about the things our children are watching on tv/seeing in video games/reading, then I think Little Women is the kind of thing that we need to be giving to our girls. Nothing against Harry Potter and Twilight, I just think adding a few classics to kids' bookshelves wouldn't hurt.

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Hi, my name is Becky, and I am from Massachusetts. I am a senior majoring in Economics. I joined the class a little bit late, so I'm trying to catch up with everyone! I am taking this course because I have a few credits to play with in my last semester, and I wanted to try something completely different than I am used to.

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Hey guys, my name is Ray Reaves and I am from Swartz Creek, Michigan. I am a sophomore in the Business School and I am taking this class because I am very interested in American Culture classes. I have taken two thus far and really enjoyed them so Amcult 201 felt like the right fit for me.

"Little Women" Discussion questions

1. What characteristics of the characters in "Little Women", more specifically the four sisters, did you notice have changed from the time frame of the novel (1861) to now? Think about everyday slogans, meals, holidays, religious influence, and types of friends the girls had. Is their world a big difference from our world today? if so, how?

2. All the sisters are different each in their own way but Jo is especially unique given her boyish qualities and fear of growing up. This notion is expressed when she says..." 'I hate to think I've got to grow up, and be Miss March, and wear long gowns, and look as prim as a China aster! It's bad enough to be a girl...I can't get over my disappointment in not being a boy; and it's worse than ever now' ..."(Alcott 5). Do you think Jo would still be afraid of growing up if she were a boy? Why or why not? You might also consider her strong family connection.

3. Elaborate on the differences between Meg and Jo. Are "young women" today more like either of these two sisters, one, or none? Give examples to your argument.

4. Analyze this phrase: "It is one of her aristocratic tastes, and quite proper, for a real lady is always known by neat boots, gloves, and handkerchief"(Alcott 25). What is the "real lady" known by today? Are some of the characteristics and expectations placed upon women in the novel still carried through to our present day society? Which ones? And why do you think these characteristics still exist?

5. One of the main themes of the book is sacrificing for the idea of a nation. How does the March household sacrifice for the greater good of the nation? Give examples

6. What does the title of the book "Little Women" say about the expectations of females in the 1860's?

7. The March women receive their first letter from their father in the novel (Ch 1, p 9-10). How has their father's words and expectations motivated them to become little women? Do you think they respect their father's wishes to grow up properly more than their mother's?

8. In chapter two Alcott describes Jo's wishes saying "No gentlemen were admitted, so Jo played male parts to her heart's content and took immense satisfaction in a pair of russetleather boots...These boots, an old foil, and a slashed doublet...were Jo's chief treasures and appeared on all occasions."(Alcott 17). How has the view upon gender roles changed from the time the book was written to now? If a young woman today had Jo's same wishes, would she be looked upon as an outcast from her female society?

9. Alcott creates a lively atmosphere in the March household whenever a letter is received by Mr. March. Read the following quote taken from chapter one in the novel and think about the excitement and anticipation of receiving a letter from a soldier today as opposed to the Civil War era. Has it changed? How?
"" 'I've got a treat for you after supper' A quick, bright smile went round like a streak of sunshine. Beth clapped her hands, regardless of the biscuit she held, and Jo tossed up her napkin, crying, 'A letter! a letter! Three cheers for Father!' "(Alcott 9).

Test Post

Hey guys. My name is Zach Dribbon and I am from Warren, New Jersey. This is my second year at Michigan and I am taking this class to learn more about American Culture and U.S. history, and possibly see if this is something I would want to major in.

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Hi, I joined this class late and saw that everyone else was doing test posts, so I thought I'd do the same. I'm Ron Harlow, I'm from Evanston, Illinois, and even though this is my third year since coming to Michigan I'm technically still a sophomore because I took last year off to do stand-up comedy in Chicago. I'm taking this class to see if American Culture might be something I'm interested in majoring in.

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Hello everyone.  My name is Wesley Stevenson, this is my first year here at Michigan.  I hope to major in Public Policy and am originally from Providence, RI.  I took this class because the topic sounded interesting and I thought it would be a good intro class to see if I wanted to continue with American Studies in the future. 

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Hi, my name is Abby Anderson and I am from Toledo, Ohio.  I am a sophomore majoring in Chemistry and I am taking this class to gain a better understanding of what American Studies is all about!

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Hi, my name is Brandon Cohen. I am a senior in Sports Management and I am planning on going to law school next year. This is my first Amcult class and I am very excited about the opportunity to expand my knowledge on the topic.

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My name is Caitlin Cohan and I am a Senior majoring in History. In the fall I will begin law school. I am taking AmCult 201 because the course addresses the concentration of my major, American History, through a different perspective.

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Hello. My name is Shawn Nelson and I am a senior majoring in Psychology. I am taking this course to learn more about America from a cultural standpoint as opposed to psychological or sociological.

Natalie's Test Post

Hey everyone, my name is Natalie. I am a freshman hoping to major in business/economics. I took AC 201 because it seemed interesting and I enjoy learning about U.S. History. I'm looking forward to learn more about the American culture in the mid and late 1900's. :)

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I'm Kaity Swanekamp, a senior English major from Buffalo, NY. I've taken a couple Amcult classes before - 464 (Civil War) and 474 (The 60s) - and I really enjoyed them, but neither had any humanities credits so here I am again. This will be my last semester at Michigan so I am just hoping to get the most out of it as possible. See you all tomorrow.

Cody Crane's test post

Hey everybody. My name is Cody Crane. I am a senior majoring in History and hoping to go to law school. Besides the fact that I need the humanities credits, I took the class because I was interested in the ways that "we" look at our culture in the United States and also around the world. Hopefully this class, and more specifically this discussion, will be beneficial.

Marcella's test post

Hi. I'm really excited to be taking this class because it's so different from all my other classes that i've taken in prevoius years and taking currently. I'm a science major so all of my classes train me to think logically, but in this discussion section I can think creatively and openly which is nice. I know that by the end of the term, I will have gained a lot from this course :)

Hi

I set up a blog account :)

Jessica's Test Post!

Hi all,

My name is Jessica Kerns.  I'm a junior and I'm majoring in communications.  Truthfully, this is my first AmCult class, but I'm looking forward to learning lots of new stuff!  I'm about to become an aunt any day now, so I'm planning on having lots of time to do our readings while babysitting.  woohooo.  That's a little bit about myself...

-Jessica Kerns

Discussion Questions for Thursday

Hey Everyone! Here are the discussion questions we will be talking about on Thursday. See you then.


1. How does the author’s theory of disguise relate to forging the theory of the “we”?



2. What does Lawrence mean by: “You can’t change your nature and mode of consciousness like changing your shoes …years must go by and centuries must elapse before you have finished …it is a long and half-secret process”? (9)




3. What is meant by the phrase: “want their cake and eat it too”? What is Noble savagery?



4. A common day version of Playing Indian: organizations such as Boy Scouts of America. What do you think about these traditions?



5. Who is Tammany? How did Tammany represent “patriotic Americanness”?



6. Frantz Fanon quotes French Philosopher, Francis Jeanson, in his book Black Skin, White Masks: “…every citizen of a nation is responsible for the actions committed in the name of that nation” (91). Do you agree? Disagree? Why?



7. What is meant by the Racialized constructions of Asian “masculinity” and “femininity”?




8. Racial consciousness vs. movement for identity. Lowe says that student activism for Asian American studies is not an “identity movement”, but rather a voicing of racial consciousness. What is the difference? (39)




9. How does the word “identity” link the two readings together (Deloria and Lowe)?

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Hallie's Test Post

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Theresa Bodwin's Test Post

Hello, my name is Theresa Bodwin.  If I could listen to one song for the rest of my life it would be "#41" by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds.  Last semester I took American Culture 342 (History of the U.S. family) and am also currently taking American Culture 240.   

Hello and Welcome!

Hello everyone,

This is your discussion section's blog. Please take advantage of it. I look forward to reading all of your posts! Again, if you have not already done so, please refer to the "How To" guide on our discussion section CTools site (under resources). In addition to creating an account, this document also gives quick instructions on how to edit your profile, post an entry & how to leave a comment.

Remember, you MUST create an account and post your first *test* entry by next Thursday's discussion section. Feel free to write what you like. Some ideas include: background/biographic information, a list of hobbies, other American Culture courses you've taken, etc. Please email or visit me during my office hours if you have any questions.

I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you.

See you all in class!
-Isabel