Critical Response to 'We Shall Remain - Episode 5: Wounded Knee'

The video 'We Shall Remain - Episode 5: Wounded Knee' depicts the 1973 Wounded Knee incident, where the American Indian Movement's actions and media's role during the event are shown. The government's decision to use suppression tactics instead of force led to a worsening of the situation and loss of benefits. The video highlights how even one incorrect step can have negative consequences and how the media's influence on people's thoughts and reactions is crucial in social movements.

Critical response to “We Shall Remain - Episode 5: Wounded Knee”
About the video
A famous Wounded Knee incident took place in 1973 in which the actions of the American
Indian Movement and the role of media during this event has been depicted in the video ("We
Shall Remain - Episode 5: Wounded Knee", 2016). The video is a great learning experience
about the incident and to see the impact of mass media on the people.
A situation in the video
The situation that raised concern for me in this video was the point where the government
decided to addresses the issue directly. Since, they could not use force to remove the protestors,
they used the suppression tactics. In these tactics, the government cut off the supplies, roads and
other resources. This move of the government drew the occupation. The officials of the
government planned their moves according to the reactions of the media and the public.
Critique of the situation
Eventually, when the media was not allowed to access the reservation and the reporters were not
allowed to capture the scene as the government wanted to keep the exposure of the situation at
minimum possible level. This made the public perceive it as a censorship and they backfired the
situation created by the government. This led to complication in the occupation of the Wounded
Knee and the occupation was put on the national stage. Those who did not have a direct
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connection with the events started enjoying the drama and they got excited about the public
display of defiance. As a result of these outcomes, the step of the government should be
critiqued. This led to worsening of the situation and the loss was more than the benefit gained.
Instead of this strategy, the government could have used something else.
Relevance of situation in the contemporary society
The situation that has been raised is relevant in contemporary society because it has arouse a new
learning that even a one incorrect step can go against the welfare of nation. The strategies should
be made keeping in mind all the people of the country, and not one a few. After the incident, the
public pools showed that people started supporting the activities for the reservation. Thought
they might not have sympathy for their ideas and situation, but the support was extended. Also,
the media influenced the thoughts, beliefs and reactions of the people when the social
movements progress. In the contemporary society too, the role of media is very popular. When
any social movement, war, terrorism happens in contemporary society, the media is the only
source that gives all the relevant information about the incident and people get influence by the
way they depict the series of incidents, the way they play the blame games and the way they help
people in connecting with their loved ones during any miss-happening (O'shaughnessy, 2012).
Effect of situation on the daily lives of people
Any action that the government takes has a direct impact on the daily lives of people. If the
government supports any protest by people, i.e. they agree to the demands of the people, then the
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change is positive. But, when the government tries to suppress any protest, then the people are
adversely affected both in physical and emotional terms. Whenever any social movement starts,
there are supports and opponents of that movement and the entire community enters into a debate
on that. Thus, the entire community gets affected.
The legacy of that situation is still evident today because in the present scenario, whenever the
government refrains the media from covering anything or do not allow them to capture any
incident, the public becomes curious and they start questioning the actions of government. They
regard it as censorship and they start feeling that the government is planning something against
them. Slowly, they develop a preference for the other parties in opposition. Therefore, when
media is refraining from anything today, the people become suspicious of the actions of
government.
My personal experience in this has been the same. My thoughts have been molded as per the
experiences that I have got. For example, when I see any media coverage, I get completely
involved with that situation. I started feeling that I am present at that situation and I am feeling
the pain and suffering of people. Also, when I see the visuals, I get affected and sometimes I cry
too. This shows that I am highly impacted by the way media covers and shows the incidents and
social movements.
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References:
O'shaughnessy, M., & Stadler, J. (2012). Media and society. Oxford University Press.
We Shall Remain - Episode 5: Wounded Knee. (2016). YouTube. Retrieved 15 December 2016,
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Opbxnuw0Dw0
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