3 reading summary

Surname 2

Student’s Name: Lishabai Yi (Liz)

Date of submission: 12.July.2017

Thesis

During the colonial period, Native Americans and the wilderness compelled the whites to adapt and tame the environment. The author identifies this as the source of a National identity and progressive civilization in the U.S (Slotkin 5).

Main points

The article dwells on the ability of the frontier myth to transform a nation. Former President John F Kennedy used the ‘New Frontier’ slogan for his campaigns against the Eisenhower administration. This ‘metaphor’ represented unfulfilled hopes and new paths towards greater achievements (Slotkin 1). Secondly, violent actions and conflict represented progress and development in the myth of frontier to colonies. Thirdly, the myth is not limited to uses by political players but is also relevant to movie script writers and the developers of child play utilities (Slotkin 5). Today, the myth can be used to explain the rapid economic growth, power and the change in the American approach to modernization

Evidence

The author uses quotations from President Jon F Kennedy’s speech as part of evidence. He also unmasks frontier myths in novels and Hollywood movies in several occasions. Additionally, he refers to the work of other scholars in anthropology and cultural history

Personal assessment

The article is fairly good. It describes the frontier myth in different contexts. However it gives too much detail that can end up confusing the reader. For example the in-depth analysis of cultural history goes way beyond the scope of the thesis.

References

Slotkin, Richard. Gunfighter Nation. 1st ed. Norman, Okla: Univ. of Oklahoma Press, 2008. Print.