TWO ONE-PAGE RESPONSE PAPERS (either single- or double-spaced is acceptable for these). Scored will be evaluated on a √+ / √ / √– basis (these scores correspond to A / B / C letter grades)
¶Amanda J. Cobb, “The National Museum of the American Indian as Cultural Sovereignty,” American Quarterly 57:2 (June 2005): 485–506.
¶Reviews of the NMAI in The Washington Post and the New York Times.
On what grounds do visitors either celebrate or critique the architecture, display tactics, and content of The National Museum of the American Indian in DC?
Requirements: One page for each prompt
Answer preview
Reading Cobb’s (2005) article brings to light an important aspect worth supporting regarding the celebration of the architecture, display tactics, and content at the NMAI in DC. In this regard, visitors celebrate the exhibits and permanent installations based on the ground that they promote the sovereignty of native cultures. For instance, the display of guns in the museum demonstrates the Native American’s opposition to diverse forces of colonization/warfare, resilience, and survival (Cobb, 2005). While armies used guns in wars to seize land and conquer ethnic groups, Natives used the same weapons to fight back and protect their communities. Hence, in displaying the iconic artifacts at the museum, the Natives got the opportunity to promote cultural continuance in a society that made the group invisible. For the longest time, Cobb (2005) informs that Native Americans’ voices have been silenced by Western
