Instructions
Students are required to co-author ten
responses to the assigned readings and public events. Personal reactions may be included so
long as each group analyzes the various strengths and weaknesses of the readings and events.
The papers must be typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, edited, and two pages in length. Further,
the reactions must employ the pronouns “our,” “us,” and “we,” as in “Our thesis . . .” Each paper
must also include one question about the readings
Sample Response Paper
Responses to Readings
In our evaluation, we found out that the films portray women as suffering since they are innately born with feminine characteristics as opposed to masculinity. As the films progresses, however, women are portrayed as seeing a new dawn and coming out of their subordinate statuses to take part in the mainstream institutions. After reading the “Whale Rider” script, we found that women are defined as weak and helpless. Among the Maori tribes, people are judged according to their gender. For example, when Porourangi gave birth to a female child, Koro (Paikea’s grandfather) was disappointed and stated that he will have nothing to do with her (Wood, p. 166). He views the situation as one where the birth of a girl breaks the family history and descent of giving birth to males. The fact that Paikea survived while her twin brother died is seen as a disadvantage to the family. Koro believes that only a male child can inherit his chiefdom. Koro goes out of his way to find a young boy who he must train to take up the chiefdom after him.
We also noted that despite the great role that women play as procreators thus ensuring the survival of the next generation, they are seen as subordinates who must work under the leadership of men.As the film progresses, Paikea’s views clash with Koro’s opinions of the solid patriarchal society. Paikea breaks some of the fundamental norms established and when Koro catches her one day secretly observing how the boys were taught “Taiaha”, he is extremely angry at her. After the incident that Pakiea saved the giant whale, however, the society believes that women can perform duties as well men. In this film, Paikea is portrayed as the mythical “Warrior woman’ who goes against the patriarchal rules and regulations set to assert her own beliefs (Wood, p. 167).
We also found that this theme is repeated in the “The Maori Merchant of Venice” where women’s role is portrayed as subservient and later independent. Example; Portia is portrayed as a weak woman who has to bend to the societal gender roles. She is forced into an arranged marriage which is a practice that is generally accepted in the society. After the death of her father, she remains loyal to his will by marrying according to the societal norms. As the play progresses, Portia’s weak and submissive character is replaced by dominance and independence. She is outspoken and portrays her racist character when she wishes that all the dark men would choose the wrong casket so that she does not end up being married to a black man. Her hope also portrays her powerlessness in choosing the man who will marry her. When Bossanio chooses the right casket, she is elated and offers herself to him.
We also found that in “The Land has Eyes”, women are portrayed as slaves of the societies they live in who later gain independence through going against the rules and norms set by the immediate society. The culture of the Island dictates that women and men should develop their physical as opposed to their intellectual capabilities. However, Hapati encourages Viki to be curious and get an education. We saw that the girl detailed in the film (Viki) is forced to reconcile with the rules and norms of the culture she lives in her quest to get education. She fights to restore the lost glory in her family’s name when her father is accused of being a thief. Through her mastery of English language which she learnt through the scholarship, she correctly interprets the rulings in the courtroom thus saving her father (Howard, p. 91). Vikiis is seen as the mythical “warrior woman” who fights relentlessly to get what she wants (Wood, p. 171).
Works Cited
Howard, Alan. Presenting Rotuma to the World: The Making of the Film “The Land Has Eyes”. Visual Anthropology Review. (2006). 22(1): 75- 96.
Wood, Houston. Native Features: Indigenous Films From Around the World. (2008). New York: Continuum.
