The vanishing Canadian is first and foremost, a recollection of White and native relations after the natives degradation. Particularly, the majority of it focused on artistic relations. But perhaps the most pressing aspect is what sells in our culture. Rather than the white consumer wanting authenticity, and education, they want exploitative entertainment. It is for this reason that artists like Paul Cane gained immense respect and notoriety, while others such as Edmund Morris died without recognition.
The title “The Vanishing Canadian” refers to the “red men” that have been disappearing in the Canadian Indian country due to white encroachment. It begins by showing the journey of Paul Kane as he leaves Toronto to document the Indians as a painter. He seeks to show the Canadians in their natural state, noticing their manners and customs in order to preserve their traditional culture and appearance on canvas before they disappear completely.
Although this task seems virtuous enough, it made me question his true intentions and whether it was his place to do this. The Natives main problem was the white encroachment that lead to their near extinction. Paul Cane’s goal was to preserve …show more content…
He refers to them as “half breeds”, and notes that they are a “sturdy race of men”. He judges them on every aspect of their life: farming, intelligence, appearance, exc. By doing this, he effectively ruined what he set out to do. His initial goal was to study them in their natural habitat and use them in his paintings as a way to commemorate their culture and glorify them after their extinction, not compare them to his western ideals. Immediately upon arriving back in Canada he sets up an exhibit to exploit the natives and elevate his career for his own financial gain. He does this for his own glory, using a damaged culture to greater facilitative his
The title “The Vanishing Canadian” refers to the “red men” that have been disappearing in the Canadian Indian country due to white encroachment. It begins by showing the journey of Paul Kane as he leaves Toronto to document the Indians as a painter. He seeks to show the Canadians in their natural state, noticing their manners and customs in order to preserve their traditional culture and appearance on canvas before they disappear completely.
Although this task seems virtuous enough, it made me question his true intentions and whether it was his place to do this. The Natives main problem was the white encroachment that lead to their near extinction. Paul Cane’s goal was to preserve …show more content…
He refers to them as “half breeds”, and notes that they are a “sturdy race of men”. He judges them on every aspect of their life: farming, intelligence, appearance, exc. By doing this, he effectively ruined what he set out to do. His initial goal was to study them in their natural habitat and use them in his paintings as a way to commemorate their culture and glorify them after their extinction, not compare them to his western ideals. Immediately upon arriving back in Canada he sets up an exhibit to exploit the natives and elevate his career for his own financial gain. He does this for his own glory, using a damaged culture to greater facilitative his