I think this is extremely interesting. The telegraph at this time was being used for buyers to essentially preorder grain, to ensure they maintained the current price it was. This almost reminds me of a combination of modern actions of buying stock and online shopping. As stock fluctuates in price constantly the price of grain back then seemed to as well, therefore by placing a transaction over the telegraph these buys claimed their price and items. Similar to online shopping in how the buyers are purchasing an item not yet in their sites but only exists in theory. By fronting the money or the intention of payment they are reserving the right to the item before it is in their possession.

I find this interesting as the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, which essentially freed all black slaves in the south. Following this time most slaves remained in the south and needed a way to provide for their family and survive. It seems ironic how instead of being forced to worked the fields at the hands of white landowners, now they entered an agreement of sharecropping. Although this was a more dignified way of working the land, as they benefited from sharing the crops, there still remained some stigmatization. This stigma remained in the disproportionate sharing of crops and restrictive terms they had. This is interesting as how even though the law stated slaves were freed, there was still some form of injustices that remained.

I agree with Solnit’s description of the Ghost Dance as a technology. Technology is defined as “the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area”(Marriam-Webster). This is a very basic sense of the term technology. As described by Louis Warren the dance “took on new forms” much like the definition of technology in this aspect. The Indians were prompted with questions of “Would you remove the white man? Would you have the buffalo come back”(Rising Wolf)? These intrigued them and sparked interest as to how the Ghost Dance could be used to rid them of their burdens. This was simply a way that made sense to the Indians, this technology or new knowledge was applicable to ridding them of the white men and bring back the buffalo. They used the “technology” of the Ghost Dance and applied to what they thought was its application of ridding them of their burdens.

The insert images show in the corners of the painting almost resemble old puzzle pieces. They have both a sharp and circular frame around themselves and fit just perfectly into the corner of the overall picture. Puzzle pieces typically represent one part of the story or larger image, and these pieces in particular are images of what is “left behind” or old. Their incorporation into this more modern painting can be representative of the United States bringing along these puzzle pieces to carry a part of the past to grow from and progress from.