Course blog for the 2018-19 Muwekma House Seminar
We'll be posting reflections from the course on here, as well as any other pertinent course materials.
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Reflections on Ixcanul
Optional prompt: How do the problems faced by María (the main character) reflect any problems that your people/culture/community/current indigenous people face today?
I feel like the movie really highlighted -intersectionality- in real life ways. It showed how people with access to the colonial language can abuse people who speak and live their Indigenous ways. It showed how ultimately, often, Indigenous women are left to carry the brunt of the trauma and pain. And it showed these things in complex ways which affected the whole family. Ultimately I was really broken hearted after watching this movie... I think it was so exquisite in the beautiful and real story telling job it did.
This movie stood out to me in terms of its genre: a scripted story shot in in a documentary style. I think this style particularly suits the setting of the film, where humans become one with nature. The relationship that all the characters have with nature (coffee fields, volcanoes, forests, mountains) is astounding, especially as it impacts much of their religious practices, food, entertainment, and lifestyles. I think it is the strong ties with nature that relates to indigenous people. Nature's timelessness reflects spiritual practices that still exist today.
The problems faced by María reflect the problems of many indigenous and minority communities today: having to make huge sacrifices to achieve a better life for oneself and their family. María had the desire to make it to the United States and be part of a new life with more opportunity, and was willing to make any sacrifice to do so. María accepted the risk of becoming pregnant in an effort to convince Pepe to take her the United States to start a new life. Many indigenous peoples and women today are disadvantaged in society and not given an equal opportunity in education and for work, and thus are forced to make greater sacrifices to try to have a better future.
Overall, I am really glad that I had the opportunity to watch Ixcanul. Prior to viewing this film, I had no knowledge of the child trafficking problem in Guatemala. I personally found the film extremely heartbreaking, especially because of the fact that the child was stolen from right under the family's nose. It wasn't clear to me whether or not Ignacio was aware of the child being taken? It seemed odd that he wasn't being a truthful translator at the end of the show.
This movie reminded me that Stanford and the United States are only a very small part of the world where we are lucky enough to live in a bubble of comfort, electricity, roads, and schools. After spending that last four weeks away worrying about homework and meetings, this film was a reminder that so many are out there suffering in much more tangible and real ways. The farm and fireside scenes reminded me of home; my family tending to our horses no matter the conditions. I was also grateful to hear the actors speaking Kaqchikel Spanish, for I have seldom listened to native languages in movies.
I really liked this movie, because it brings to light the "problems" that exist in our communities. And I put "problems" in quotation marks, because it isn't really something that I can pass judgement on, especially for the indigenous people in Guatemala. But, from here on out, what I contribute is based on my own dilemmas with my tribe. I'm the Navajo rez. Growing up , I felt the negative pressures to conform to the gender-based expectations. This meant that I was expected to learn how to make dough, and I needed to know how to clean, and realistically, I needed to know how to butcher a sheep. Anyway,it goes without saying that I hated being judged based on "traditional" Navajo expectations for a woman. So, when I was watching the movie, it irked me to see the same expectations be put on Maria, because I believe that every woman has a right to live the life she wants to. If she doesn't want to have an arranged marriage, she doesn't have to have one (and if she does, that's cool, too).
This movie showed topics and issues that I'm almost completely new to. I saw incredibly nuanced portrayals of, like Mia and others have said, intersectional issues. Also I was particularly struck by the portrayal of the deeply tender relationship between Maria and her mom.
The movie reminded me of the desire youth on the Navajo Nation want for a better life. The United States represented independence, a better life and freedom for Maria. Anywhere off the reservation is the desire Navajo youth have. This is mainly because of the lack of opportunities on the reservation, youth feel like they have to fulfill the place in society that their families have given them. I feel like Maria is in the same situation, she wants to be able to make her own decisions and control her own life rather than her mother or a husband.
Joseph Manuel: There are certain instances in the movie, which, made me draw parallels to the struggle of indigenous people in my own tribes. There was the dissolution of the old culture (pre-contact culture), issues of young pregnancy and the father leaving unexpectedly, and the mere living conditions of being in such a remote area. On another note, I loved the movie for accurately portraying the lives of indigenous people in remote locations.
One thing that really stuck out to me was how supportive the parents where of their daughter. Throughout the movie they never once talk about Maria being a bad person for getting pregnant out of wedlock which seemed like an importance for the marriage. They even go so far as to go searching for the missing child. Often times in movies with similar themes of pregnancy, the family disowns the child and mother. I found it really interesting how the family continued to deeply care for both the mother and the baby.
For me, the problems that I feel that stick out most to me is this clash of traditional culture vs. modern times. Like María, I also feel that there is a lot of conflict between my Native traditions (generally for both Navajos & Cherokees) and what is considered to be the "right" way of living. I know personally that living as an urban native, it's difficult to live up to the ways that your elders/parents taught you to live. It's especially difficult when living "traditionally" means living a life in hardship, a life that hardly anyone else lives anymore, a life that modern society deems archaic. It also becomes confusing, because when your mind associates traditional living with hardship, and when one would want to break out of this hardship, one might also want to break out of traditional living. By the end of the movie, I feel that this movie very much reflects the idea that it's difficult being traditional in an era that no longer rewards being traditional anymore.
I feel like Maria having the conflict of not wanting to immerse herself into the city and go beyond her volcano is very symbolic and similar to my heritage and where I am from. When a person leaves the reservation it is to go to three colleges that all the native people from my reservation go to in Montana, and they all go home almost every weekend, which hinders the optimal success they could achieve if they were to just take a chance and go big. Leaving their comfort zone, and putting no boundaries on the best path to success is what needs to happen, and I see Maria anticipating leaving her volcano the same as my peers not wanting to leave the reservation.
I found it very difficult to walk away from this movie and compose myself to not feel thoroughly angry. And disappointed. And defeated. And upset. And unhappy with men. The narrative of a male getting to exit the scene after getting a female pregnant has been relatively present among those I know, and it is maddening that people can just walk out while the others have to serve time.
I've questioned my faith in humanity a lot this year, and this movie added to my dissatisfaction. It's hard to maintain an optimistic output of looking for the best in others when others continually break that faith.
"I was quite visibly frustrated with the fact that if only Pepe had listened to Maria and pulled out, literally none of the troubles Maria and her family faced would have happened. Maria was by default the perpetrator and scapegoat, and not the victim. Watching through a Western lens, I was also irritated with Maria for swallowing this unjust treatment. But how is it fair to expect Maria to reject the only expectations she's ever known? And how can we eliminate toxic societal pressures without passing perhaps equally toxic judgment?"
Something I really appreciated by watching the Ixcanul film was the cinematography. I was really intrigued by how the everyday routine, chores, and struggles of life were portrayed. It really was realistic and accurate to what rural life is like. It is sometimes easy to forget what life/everyday struggles feel like when we are so far away from that way of life. I was really taken back to how things used to be for native Polynesians, and how they are today. It gave me a chance also to see what direction in which I want to go with my own life, culture, and dreams.
Mia:
ReplyDeleteI feel like the movie really highlighted -intersectionality- in real life ways. It showed how people with access to the colonial language can abuse people who speak and live their Indigenous ways. It showed how ultimately, often, Indigenous women are left to carry the brunt of the trauma and pain. And it showed these things in complex ways which affected the whole family. Ultimately I was really broken hearted after watching this movie... I think it was so exquisite in the beautiful and real story telling job it did.
This movie stood out to me in terms of its genre: a scripted story shot in in a documentary style. I think this style particularly suits the setting of the film, where humans become one with nature. The relationship that all the characters have with nature (coffee fields, volcanoes, forests, mountains) is astounding, especially as it impacts much of their religious practices, food, entertainment, and lifestyles. I think it is the strong ties with nature that relates to indigenous people. Nature's timelessness reflects spiritual practices that still exist today.
ReplyDeleteThe problems faced by María reflect the problems of many indigenous and minority communities today: having to make huge sacrifices to achieve a better life for oneself and their family. María had the desire to make it to the United States and be part of a new life with more opportunity, and was willing to make any sacrifice to do so. María accepted the risk of becoming pregnant in an effort to convince Pepe to take her the United States to start a new life. Many indigenous peoples and women today are disadvantaged in society and not given an equal opportunity in education and for work, and thus are forced to make greater sacrifices to try to have a better future.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I am really glad that I had the opportunity to watch Ixcanul. Prior to viewing this film, I had no knowledge of the child trafficking problem in Guatemala. I personally found the film extremely heartbreaking, especially because of the fact that the child was stolen from right under the family's nose. It wasn't clear to me whether or not Ignacio was aware of the child being taken? It seemed odd that he wasn't being a truthful translator at the end of the show.
ReplyDeleteThis movie reminded me that Stanford and the United States are only a very small part of the world where we are lucky enough to live in a bubble of comfort, electricity, roads, and schools. After spending that last four weeks away worrying about homework and meetings, this film was a reminder that so many are out there suffering in much more tangible and real ways. The farm and fireside scenes reminded me of home; my family tending to our horses no matter the conditions. I was also grateful to hear the actors speaking Kaqchikel Spanish, for I have seldom listened to native languages in movies.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this movie, because it brings to light the "problems" that exist in our communities. And I put "problems" in quotation marks, because it isn't really something that I can pass judgement on, especially for the indigenous people in Guatemala. But, from here on out, what I contribute is based on my own dilemmas with my tribe. I'm the Navajo rez. Growing up , I felt the negative pressures to conform to the gender-based expectations. This meant that I was expected to learn how to make dough, and I needed to know how to clean, and realistically, I needed to know how to butcher a sheep. Anyway,it goes without saying that I hated being judged based on "traditional" Navajo expectations for a woman. So, when I was watching the movie, it irked me to see the same expectations be put on Maria, because I believe that every woman has a right to live the life she wants to. If she doesn't want to have an arranged marriage, she doesn't have to have one (and if she does, that's cool, too).
ReplyDeleteThis movie showed topics and issues that I'm almost completely new to. I saw incredibly nuanced portrayals of, like Mia and others have said, intersectional issues. Also I was particularly struck by the portrayal of the deeply tender relationship between Maria and her mom.
ReplyDeleteThe movie reminded me of the desire youth on the Navajo Nation want for a better life. The United States represented independence, a better life and freedom for Maria. Anywhere off the reservation is the desire Navajo youth have. This is mainly because of the lack of opportunities on the reservation, youth feel like they have to fulfill the place in society that their families have given them. I feel like Maria is in the same situation, she wants to be able to make her own decisions and control her own life rather than her mother or a husband.
ReplyDeleteJoseph Manuel: There are certain instances in the movie, which, made me draw parallels to the struggle of indigenous people in my own tribes. There was the dissolution of the old culture (pre-contact culture), issues of young pregnancy and the father leaving unexpectedly, and the mere living conditions of being in such a remote area. On another note, I loved the movie for accurately portraying the lives of indigenous people in remote locations.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that really stuck out to me was how supportive the parents where of their daughter. Throughout the movie they never once talk about Maria being a bad person for getting pregnant out of wedlock which seemed like an importance for the marriage. They even go so far as to go searching for the missing child. Often times in movies with similar themes of pregnancy, the family disowns the child and mother. I found it really interesting how the family continued to deeply care for both the mother and the baby.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the problems that I feel that stick out most to me is this clash of traditional culture vs. modern times. Like María, I also feel that there is a lot of conflict between my Native traditions (generally for both Navajos & Cherokees) and what is considered to be the "right" way of living. I know personally that living as an urban native, it's difficult to live up to the ways that your elders/parents taught you to live. It's especially difficult when living "traditionally" means living a life in hardship, a life that hardly anyone else lives anymore, a life that modern society deems archaic. It also becomes confusing, because when your mind associates traditional living with hardship, and when one would want to break out of this hardship, one might also want to break out of traditional living. By the end of the movie, I feel that this movie very much reflects the idea that it's difficult being traditional in an era that no longer rewards being traditional anymore.
ReplyDeleteI feel like Maria having the conflict of not wanting to immerse herself into the city and go beyond her volcano is very symbolic and similar to my heritage and where I am from. When a person leaves the reservation it is to go to three colleges that all the native people from my reservation go to in Montana, and they all go home almost every weekend, which hinders the optimal success they could achieve if they were to just take a chance and go big. Leaving their comfort zone, and putting no boundaries on the best path to success is what needs to happen, and I see Maria anticipating leaving her volcano the same as my peers not wanting to leave the reservation.
ReplyDeleteI found it very difficult to walk away from this movie and compose myself to not feel thoroughly angry. And disappointed. And defeated. And upset. And unhappy with men. The narrative of a male getting to exit the scene after getting a female pregnant has been relatively present among those I know, and it is maddening that people can just walk out while the others have to serve time.
ReplyDeleteI've questioned my faith in humanity a lot this year, and this movie added to my dissatisfaction. It's hard to maintain an optimistic output of looking for the best in others when others continually break that faith.
OLIVIA:
ReplyDelete"I was quite visibly frustrated with the fact that if only Pepe had listened to Maria and pulled out, literally none of the troubles Maria and her family faced would have happened. Maria was by default the perpetrator and scapegoat, and not the victim. Watching through a Western lens, I was also irritated with Maria for swallowing this unjust treatment. But how is it fair to expect Maria to reject the only expectations she's ever known? And how can we eliminate toxic societal pressures without passing perhaps equally toxic judgment?"
Something I really appreciated by watching the Ixcanul film was the cinematography. I was really intrigued by how the everyday routine, chores, and struggles of life were portrayed. It really was realistic and accurate to what rural life is like. It is sometimes easy to forget what life/everyday struggles feel like when we are so far away from that way of life. I was really taken back to how things used to be for native Polynesians, and how they are today. It gave me a chance also to see what direction in which I want to go with my own life, culture, and dreams.
ReplyDelete