During my experience this semester, I have learned how literacy texts can have multiple interpretations. Specifically, when reading the poem, “Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings”, I was able to analyze the text through multiple critical lenses, having two different interpretations. The first lens I was able to analyze the text with was the cultural studies lens. This lens focuses on the individuals within society who are often faced with discrimination. Throughout the poem it is simple to see how the Native Americans were discriminated against. The Americans participated in racial discrimination against the Native Americans. The next lens that can be applied to, “Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings'', is the marxism lens. The marxism critical lens puts an emphasis on how texts reflect or challenge the effects of class and social roles. Somewhat similar to the cultural lens, but marxism focuses on the social roles groups or individuals participate in. The Americans are a much higher class with wealth and power, on the other hand, the Native Americans are low class and at the bottom of the hierarchy. Based on my experience, multiple perspectives of literature exist through the application of critical …show more content…
The Natives did no wrong toward the Americans, and only wanted peace. This did not matter to the Americans, the Americans wanted the Native’s land, and they were going to have it one way or another. They stormed into the Native’s homeland, killing everyone they saw who was a Native. The text states, “...several hundred women, children, and men were slaughtered in an unspeakable massacre, after a white flag was raised. The American soldiers trampled the white flag in the blood of the peacemakers” (Harjo). Even after the Natives surrendered to a war they did not even want to participate in, they were all