How does the role of the hero/sheroe change throughout culture, and what does that say about the society a) which the piece was written, or, b) the time period during which the piece was written?

Sunday, October 11, 2009

In Which Christopher Columbus is Concerned

I was reading an article on Christopher Columbus, or, more accurately, Columbus Day and the representation of Columbus throughout different schools. Some schools are still teaching the wonderful, romanticized

"Columbus discovered America in 1492
With three small ships and a very brave crew,
He found this land for me and you!

Columbus discovered America in 1492
With the Nina, the Pinta, the Santa Maria
He found this land for me and you!"

(What I was taught in kindergarten). But other schools are teaching the definitely darker side of Columbus. The diseases. The stealing of gold. The marauding of resources. The like. In fact, one school even held Columbus on "trial," and he was condemned to life in prison.

I found it interesting. The last line of the article, a quote from Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, sums it up justly:

"Heroism and villainy are just two sides of the same coin."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33266425/ns/us_news-education//
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