Native American Totem Poles - Research Paper Example

It had the ability to protect those dwelling within the household (Stewart 24). There is also the memorial and mortuary pole each with its own characteristics. This essay will explore the artistic nature of the Haida people mainly focusing on their totem poles, the style used in designing the pole, the meaning of the pole, reviewing an example a pole, and various criticisms highlighted by art historians based on them. In terms of style, a characteristic feature of the pole used that cannot be ignored is the nature of the eye set.

The eyes are designed to peer down at the viewer from the position on the pole (Kramer 77). To understand the meaning of totem pole, they are viewed and interpreted from the top to the bottom. Kramer goes on to assert, “Well-formed eyes feature inner pupils and outer lids” (77). The lines of the Haida poles flow from one decoration to the next. Humans if they appear seem typically smaller than other figures. On other hand, they show fully dimensioned animals with well-rounded body parts and separate personalities (Kramer 77).

To note is that with the Haida totem poles they remained unpainted which, is a contrasting feature as compared to other totem poles. For example in cultures such as the Kwakiutl there is the use of brightly painted colors such as white, red, yellow, brown and black colors. In consideration to the meaning of the totem pole, symbolism plays a major part in their displays. For example in the picture below, each aspect of the totem has a meaning. Here two security guards flank the killer whale. The killer whale fin rises between the hats of the security guards, whose hats indicate chiefly wealth and status.

The long beaked bird representing the Raven crescent has a young bird and human face on its breast. A small human face supports the bear and leans above the face of the bottom figure. This may represent the bear mother story, which, is about a