What are 'Borderlands Narratives'?

Narratives are stories: stories we hear, stories we tell others, stories we tell ourselves. Sometimes these stories are old ones, and may sound familiar. Sometimes these stories are brand new, stories that have emerged in our own lifetimes. The stories we will discuss on this site are stories of and about the Mexican-U.S. borderlands, that frontier zone in which people live, work, and play. We will be responding to our sources and to each other's views on this site, and we invite YOU to join us in our discussions and explorations.

A disclaimer: We are not experts! In addition to reading (or viewing) this collection of narratives for the first time, we are all in the process of learning about this unique cultural space and its history. Please use caution when reading OUR narratives, and make sure to cite us: http://www.borderlandsnarratives.blogspot.com/

This blog has been constucted by Professor Geneva M. Gano's American Studies class at Indiana University, Bloomington, in Spring 2010 and Spring 2011. Responses to our posts are welcomed!

Monday, February 14, 2011

The Problem of Speaking for Others

Here we have a cartoon, drawn by Ashcan artist John Sloan, which indicates his interest in a political aesthetic of Anarchism and a critical stance toward bourgeois commercial consumption.  In this image, titled "Indian Detour," we see tourists avoiding what D.H. Lawrence described as the trap of "making the Indian and his 'religion'... a sort of public pet."  At the same time, we can visually comprehend the "problem of speaking for others" that Linda Alcoff discusses in her groundbreaking 1991 essay, "The Problem of Speaking for Others."  What is being learned or experienced here?  Who even cares?  Consider this image in the light of Edward Said's claim that "far more than they fight, cultures coexist and interact fruitfully with each other."


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5 comments:

  1. Katlin RectorFebruary 15, 2011 at 9:09 AM

    I think this image is showing that the Indians and tourists are not living fruitfully amongst each other, but that the tourists are making it a point to trap in the Indians and criticize their culture. I think this image goes against what Edward Said is saying because these cultures clearly are not getting along. I could be wrong though, like Linda ALcoff points out, you can't always speak for others. Although I see conflict amongst the different cultures in this image, Sloan could have been trying to portray something completely different, and it's not up to me to say otherwise.

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  2. JP/GGFebruary 15, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    Actually, K, I think you CAN say otherwise. And Said could be interpreted in a number of ways-- "fruitful" interaction need not mean mutual respect, nor understanding, nor even interest. It COULD just mean that the Indians are making $$ off of the tourists, and the tourists are enjoying themselves.

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  3. brainsFebruary 15, 2011 at 4:58 PM

    I agree that this image is hard to decipher, especially based on the quote that is presented about cultures coexisting more often than not. I would assert that in this picture that the White Americans are enjoying the dances of the Native Americans, they have packed in extremely tightly to get a look at these new entertainments. But I can see the only benefit coming to the Natives as being perhaps a very small compensation in the form of tobacco, booze, or money. I however cannot see this relationship being even close to a symbiotic one. I imagine that a great burden lies on the Natives who are no doubt being forced to perform for the white Americans, who are gaining the most from this interaction.

    Ben Rains

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  4. Andrew Joseph PowersFebruary 21, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    After browsing the "Problem of Speaking for Others" article, it actually makes it harder to make a determination about this image. Unless I was actually at the dance or if i was the creator or this image, I would have no way of really understanding what is being experienced in this picture. I can make some educated guesses just by observing different elements of the drawing, but unless I have a first hand experience of what is happening in the drawing, it is very hard to say how "fruitfully" the interactions in the picture are.

    Andrew Powers

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  5. Franki DawesFebruary 27, 2011 at 9:29 AM

    I wouldn't say that the two cultures are interacting fruitfully here, at least not in the sense that they are gaining knowledge or respect for each other. Although, the term "fruitfully" could certainly mean something more monetary, as mentioned above, in which case this is most likely quite fruitful. But from the perspective that the goal of such interactions is to gain some understanding and acceptance of other cultures, this picture seems to say it all. The Natives seem to be doing their ritual dance (although how ritual is it with hundreds of bystanders?) while the white Americans gather to view the spectacle. However, the spectacle here seems to be less of the Natives' culture and more of the glamor of traveling and socializing with others from your own side of the country. There seems to be a disinterest and a visible divide between the two cultures during a time when the ultimate goal is to bring the cultures together and develop a mutual respect, or at the least a basic knowledge of each others' lifestyles.

    Franki Dawes

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