contact: what it means and how it operates exhibiting native american cultures: points of contact...
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Contact:
What it means and how it operates
Exhibiting Native American Cultures: Points of ContactMuseum Studies Special Topics, A460/560 Larry J. Zimmerman, Ph.D., RPAIndiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
•A coming together so as to be touching
•A situation allowing exchange of ideas or messages: communication, intercommunication
•An acquaintance who is in a position to help: connection, source.
•Be in communication with, establish communication with
•A junction where things touch or are in physical contact
•Close interaction
•A communicative interaction
Contact
How do you know contact has occurred?
•Sudden culture change
•Apparent anomalies in objects or practices
•Combinations of decorative motifs, objects, practices that weren’t there before
•Sudden popularity of certain objects or practices
•Population movements
But be cautious! Lots of other factors may account for the shifts observed.
What factors cause one group to contact another?
Environmental changes that force population movements
Economic pressures (other than environment)
Population pressures
Displacement from territory
Curiosity & exploration
Desire for the exotic
Religious proselytizing
What happens when contact occurs?
•Ideas get exchanged
•Things get exchanged
•Understanding begins
•Misunderstanding begins
Other possibilities:
Disease Conflict
Mistrust Trust
‘Hybridization’ Syncretism
Diffusion and its processes
Stimulus diffusion—ideas, from simple contact
Single trait diffusion—a few things, from trade
Complex diffusion—whole cultural complexes, from colonization
Independent Invention
Just because things seem to be alike doesn’t mean they are so because of contact and diffusion!
Similar environmental and social conditions lead to similar adaptations.
Form, Function, and Meaning
Form—physical characteristics or attributes of an object or concept
Function—the role of the object or idea, what it does
Meaning—what the object or idea means to the people who have or use it
The concept of the Frontier
•A boundary between (at least) two major approaches, elements, or territories
•Characteristics:
Constant tension and possible conflict
Constant exchange in spite of any tensions
Constant minor shifts one way or another
For America, the frontier is part of the master narrative, an element of American character
Frederick Jackson Turner and the “Frontier Hypothesis”—see the full text
Development of the American frontier helped to shape not only the character of the American people but also the nature of its institutions
Individualism, nationalism, mobility, egalitarianism Frederick Jackson Turner
Culture as processContact is not a ‘thing,’ but can be seen in things
Contact is dynamic and is best viewed diachronically
Contact is a matter of adaptation
Contact is sometimes so subtle that it is denied
The Culture Area Concept
How to handle the huge diversity of Native American cultures:
There was huge variation in languages.
Cultures Areas or Food Areas?
The Problem with Culture Areas
Actually, these categories have entered into the popular culture in a big way. They are now the main descriptors of Indian groups.
One needs to question whether it is still a useful concept:
It locks Indian groups in time, using descriptions of groups at the time of Contact.
Pan-Indian cultural activities and massive influences of media have "blended" lots of cultural traits.
Doesn't account for the ability of groups to adjust to white and other Indian influences.
Contact in the Eiteljorg
According to Webster… Marty Gradolf
(Winnebago of Nebraska), 2001
Treaties—formalized contact
Even in the entryway, contact is obvious
Interactive map: Indian IndianaInteractive map: Indian Indiana
MyaamiakiMyaamiaki (The Miami People) (The Miami People)
Myaamiaki
Finished mahkahsina (moccasins) made by Scott Shoemaker
Tomahawk pipe (Miami), c. 1795.
Ribbonwork interactive
Bodewadmi (The Potawatomi People)
I live in two worlds really. I go to work I live in two worlds really. I go to work everyday and I live in a house and I drive a everyday and I live in a house and I drive a Tahoe and I wear Reebok shoes, just like Tahoe and I wear Reebok shoes, just like everybody does. But also, I follow the good everybody does. But also, I follow the good road. It’s important to me to keep that balance.road. It’s important to me to keep that balance.
- John Pigeon (Pokagon Band of - John Pigeon (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi)Potawatomi)
Basket by John Pigeon
Basketry interactive
Lenapeyok & Mihtohseeniaki (The Delaware and Others)
Lenapeyok & Mihtohseeniaki
Lenapeyok & Mihtohseeniaki
Historical Timeline—draws attention to contact