The movie Dances with Wolves begins in 1863, with First Lieutenant John J. Dunbar being the main character. Throughout the film he attempts to rid himself of any assumptions the viewer may have had that the Native American Indians were a savage and brutal race. He does this by first revealing the darkness of these people, then bringing the viewer to a point of connection with the Indians and their way of life. We then feel sincere gratitude for them as people and end up favoring them in matters of devotion. The beginning of the story takes place during a major battle that occurred between Union and Confederate forces. During the firefight, his leg is injured and he is told he would have to undergo an amputation. Instead, he grabs a nearby horse and charges straight into battle thinking he will die. Although he is often shot, he is never actually hit by the Confederate front line, allowing the Union troops a chance to rally and push towards the enemy line. Due to his perceived bravery, he is given an award and also receives proper medical treatment for his leg allowing him to make a full recovery. Due to his heroic behavior, he is given the choice of where to be sent. In the end he chooses the western frontier because it was getting smaller every day and he wanted to see it before it was too late. This film showed what life was really like on the frontier. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The movie “Dances with Wolves” was directed by Jim Wilson and co-directed by Kevin Costner. The main character, Lieutenant John J. Dunbar, was also played by Costner. The film was released on November 9, 1990 and exceeded expectations. According to IMDb, Dances with Wolves was nominated for twelve Academy Awards and won seven, including Best Director (Kevin Costner), Best Screenplay, Screenplay by (Michael Blake), and incredibly Best Picture of the Year. Another surprising fact is that Greene's nomination for Best Supporting Actor was the second time a North American native received the honor (1970). Although most American critics liked the film, reviews from Native Americans were mixed. It was raised by director George Bordeaux, himself a Native American, who, although full of good Native American insight, was directed by a white male. While this is true, both Jim Wilson and Kevin Costner did their best to show the truth about Native Americans. The film uses emotions like sympathy and empathy to help build a deep connection with the characters. In the first scene, when Lieutenant Dunbar rushes into battle trying to get shot, Jim Wilson gave us a sense of his loneliness and debauchery. Because these emotions are quite common, they offer observers an immediate connection to the character. The main acquaintance we have with the real Indians themselves is when we find that the Pawnee Indians examine the stupidity of white men and how they should be killed. This band of Indians execute Timmons, a teamster who takes John to his new stronghold, and we subsequently feel that our underlying stereotypes are supported, however, we do not see it through John's eyes and in this way we are as but vulnerable to improvement of our assessments. It is precisely through John's encounters and emotions that we feel truly connected to what happens in the film. Through his experiences with the Indians, particularly the Sioux, John begins to see that these individuals are not savages but are real people. that they havefamily and companions, they work and play, live and breathe just like every other person only in their particular social ways. We see that they are actually terrified from time to time, such as when Kicking Bird keeps running away from the naked John who is also stunned by the Indian's presence and does not want his steed, Sisco, to be overthrown. We can see through the lieutenant's eyes that it is so disappointing and upsetting for him to not have the chance to talk to other people, and when revered, we see how this has probably been a problem for Indians before. We see them as extremely generous individuals, such as when John is given a buffalo hide by them as well as their kindness in accepting his gifts. Likewise, we recognize how Indians are creating characters of their own as people and not just as a collection of individuals. The American frontier, as shown in "Dances with Wolves," involves geology, history, legends, and the social articulation of life in the rush forward. of American development that began with English frontier settlements in the mid-seventeenth century and ended with the confirmation of the last western regions as states in 1959. This period of gigantic movements and settlements was notably authorized by President Thomas Jefferson following the Purchase of Louisiana, offering ascendance to the expansionist way of thinking known as “manifest destiny.” This massive cultural movement transformed the United States into the country we all know today. Although the frontier was a great triumph for the American people, all was not well. According to official US documents, there were more than 40 Indian wars. These bloody battles cost the lives of approximately 19,000 white men, women and children, including those killed in individual battles, and the lives of approximately 30,000 Indians. The actual number of massacred and injured Indians is believed to be significantly higher than the number provided by the government. Some sources say this could mean up to 50% more deaths than the 30,000 according to one government report (1889). Using the sources provided on Wikipedia I was able to find really good information about the expansion into the frontier and the interaction with Native Americans. Since many of these documents date directly back to the 1800s, it allows me to have confidence that they have not been changed over time. Using both the textbook and other primary sources, it gave me a good idea of ​​the events. I think a very useful source would be a Solder or Native American journal from this period. Like the way Lieutenant Dunbar kept his diary. There are many government documents available but not many accessible journals. This would allow me to get the perspective of a real person living during this time that I could use to compare to what is depicted in Dances with Wolves. Dances with Wolves was nothing like the old John Wayne movies like Stagecoach and Fort Apache depicted the world. Native Americans as reckless savages. In this film, their life was depicted accurately and precisely. Indeed, even at the level of the Lakota (Sioux) who communicate in their own language, the captions give us the underlying interpretation. When John Dunbar experiences American soldiers after living among the Indians, he sees them as savage and hideous in contrast to his embracing comrades. That was one of the reasons it was effective, because I, like so many other people who were shocked to see it, are happy to see Native Americans represented as individuals. Although the film is seen through the eyes of John Dunbar, his previously established biases are routinely played up.