This reading really sparked my interest. I’ve never seen the inside of a casino but I have seen the outside of casinos on Indian reservations and they look very extravagant. This could be because most casinos on Indian reservations are found in areas where there aren’t any other casinos allowed. I thought the author made a few good points but I also felt he was hinting at things he didn’t want to just come out and say. When the writer talks about the inside of the casino he describes the placement of the walls, windows, lighting, shops casinos, restaurants, and bingo parlors.
When he describes the gaming rooms he says there, “structural arrangements (along with the absence of clocks) combine to produce an effect of timelessness well known among casino designers.” This description of the casino ties into the writers description of gaming in Pequot history and present. In the very first paragraph the writer says, “gaming is often the verb used to describe hunting, the activity that once provided the Pequot’s with sustenance and survival on this very land.” I think the Pequot’s are still gaming on the same land the object they are gaming for has just changed. The author also comments on some items in the gift shop. The example that sticks out to me is the $400 doll that was made in china this is another example of casino operators trapping the consumers into buying a piece of un authentic American Indian heritage.
The idea of an authentic native American setting is one of the factors that drives business at the foxwoods casino, but what the casino is really selling is a false identity of native American heritage. They are gaining from the false identity developed over the years.
Discussion Questions:
1) 1) How do you think the false identity of the Indians plays a role in the success of the casino?
21 2) Do you think the casinos are fair to the surrounding public since they are taking advantage of peoples addictions?
Sadly, I think their false identity has been more profitable for them than had they not used it. It gives people what they believe to be a true taste of Native American culture and heritage.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree. If they had used symbols of their true identity, not many outsiders would be interested. A lot of people expect a certain thing when they think of Native Americans.
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