From 17th-century engravings to 21st-century blockbusters, the Powhatan woman who became known as Pocahontas has been a central component of US American cultural imaginary. At once understood as settler colonialism’s Other and the mythical mother of the new nation, Pocahontas offers a rich and contradictory source for studying the contact zone of colonial encounters and the mythic function of US American history more broadly: what is the relation between story and history? How are stories used to establish and contest national identities? Who gets to tell such stories in the first place? And how do they become part of a nation’s collective memory?
To answer such questions, students will trace the development of Pocahontas from historical figure to national symbol by engaging with historical primary material, recent scholarly revisions of historical events, and various retellings of Pocahontas’ story from the 18th to the 21st century in literature, arts, and film.
Students will furthermore engage with core American Studies scholarship on the relevance of myths and symbols, train their ability to work with primary material, and hone their skills in cultural analysis.
This seminar will be of value in particular to future teachers who anticipate encountering ”popular” stories about US American history in the classroom and who want to be prepared to guide their critical reflection and contextualization.