Dances with Wolves Film Task

Why is Dancers with Wolves a western film?

Dancers with Wolves is a western film because it contains a wide range of signifiers with imply that it is a western. One signifier that implies that this film is a western is the themes that run throughout the film, one theme would be good vs bad which is seen within the film as the Sioux Tribe vs the American Army or Sioux vs Pawnee,  and also Stereotype vs Reality, this is seen in the film as the main male character stereotypes the Sioux as being violent but in reality they are friendly, after going onto the frontier alone and then meeting the tribe and becoming one of them, another theme that is presented within the film is betrayal because the American soldier felt as if he had been betrayed by the American army as he was left alone at the fort, also another theme presented within the theme  is the fear of the un-known as the soldier was afraid of the Sioux Tribe. Another signifier that the film is a western is the setting of the film, the film is set in the southern states of America within very baron landscape, these landscapes would now be maybe a town in Texas etc. Also, a signifier which shows that this film is a western are the characters that are in the film, the characters within the film are the Sioux Tribe, the cowboy who took the main male soldier to the frontier but was murdered by another tribe called the Pawnee, and also the outcomes of the American civil War between the northern and southern states of America.

How are Native Americans and White Americans represented?

The Sioux Native American Tribe were represented within the film as being friendly and not as savage as many people originally thought as Native Americans were stereotyped as savage, violent people. The Pawnee Native American Tribe are shown as the stereotypical view of Native Americans as within the film they are shown as a violent, savage tribe who show no mercy to White Americans or anyone who is not a Pawnee Tribe member. The main male character within the film is a White American soldier and is represented as being alone and lost. Throughout the film the way he is represented changes as he becomes more open with the Sioux Tribe members, and by the end of the film he becomes a member of the Sioux Tribe. The other White Americans within the film are the American Army, they are represented within the film on two accounts as being reckless and wanting to take over Native American land whatever the consequences of this, nearing the end of the film the American soldiers capture the main male White American and show him no mercy as he is now part of the Sioux Tribe, they are represented within this part of the film as being merciless and violent towards anyone they believe to be a Native American, however at the very end of the film the American Army join up with the Pawnee to try and find the Sioux Tribe and the main male character.

Do the representations of different cultures and conflict hold any messages for us today in modern life?

Within today's society there are many different conflicts, within the film the representations of the conflict are that instead of fighting or having a war, the Sioux Tribe and the main male character sit down and talk, they have discussions over each others way of life and how they could live peacefully side by side, this could give today's society the message that sitting down and talking about things is usually better than beginning a war. Another message that can be taken from the film is the spirit of adventure or exploration, this is shown within the film because the main male character has a adventurous spirit and wants to explore the a new area of his country he has never been to The Frontier, this gives us the message that today we should be exploring and not being afraid to see new things. Also, a message that can also be taken from the film is helping the environment, this because within the film the Sioux Tribe live of the land, they only kill as much buffalo as they need and only when they need it, they also use every part of the animal, the message that this would give today's society is that we should only use the resources (eg; trees or coal) when we need them and only take as much as we need, also we should always reuse things as much as we can as this will help the environment replenish and will not cause us as many problems.  Another message we could get from this film is the stopping of prejudice, this is shown in the film because the main male character sets out the film with the prejudice that all Native Americans are savages, however throughout the film his prejudice changes as he begins to get to know the Sioux Tribe and comes to learn that they are friendly, the message that this gives to our society is that you should get know people before you make prejudice re-marks or views.

How does the film represent the three constitutive contradictions that Rick Altman discusses in the passages?

Within the beginning of the film its represents the first contradiction of individual freedom and community action, it does this because in the beginning of the film John Dumbar is a loner, on his own at the fort on the frontier waiting for the American Army, however throughout the film he becomes a part of the Sioux Tribe and is no longer a loner. Also, within the film there are two Native American tribes the Pawnee and the Sioux, the Pawnee are a savage, unforgiving tribe of people, whereas the Sioux are a friendly un-violent tribe of people.
Within the film it also represents the second contradiction of respect for the environment and industrial growth, it does this because during the film it shows the Sioux tribe travelling on horseback - so there are no cars polluting the environment, living in wigwams and using very basic weapons, also the film shows the Sioux tribe hunting buffalo - they only kill the buffalo that they need and they use every single part of the animal so that nothing is wasted. Also, within the film it shows the industrial growth of America during this time, it shows the building of towns at the beginning of the film and it also shows the new weapons that are created such as rifles and pistols, also the Sioux tribe hunted the buffalo for their hides and pelts so they were able to sell them. 
Within the film it also represents the third contradiction of reverence for the past and desire to build a new future, it does this within the film as the Sioux tribe remember their forefathers and continue to do the traditional hunting and farming methods and also the Sioux tribe follow the traditional way of life as they still continue within the film to live in wigwams. Also, within the film there is a desire to build a new future as the American Army are pushing westwards through the frontier, also its shows the building of American cities and the industrialisation of America.