Cortez The Killer
Hey folks!
First, it would be nice for each of you to read the comments from the last post. Many of your classmates said wonderful things about your work, and I am sure you would love to see that!
Now for tonight. You could go HERE and proceed through the Moodle task, if you are familiar with Moodle and can navigate through it. If so, you should begin with the "Cortez" link, and then proceed to "Everyone Loves Music," and then "Post a Song Comment", and lastly "Now Read This."
If you can't you can listen to the song HERE. Then, in a comment on this blog, answer the following:
Is Neil Young's charaterization of the Aztecs accurate? If so why, if not, why not?
Enjoy!~
posted by Mr. Tom Norton at
9:17 AM
42 Comments:
I think in ways Neil Young's veiws are Axtecs are right. For example, he says, "They offored life adn scrafice so other's could go on." This is no dout how they viewed it but I think many other people think this is discusting and wrong. It really depends on how you view other people's customs. I beleive that his words are accurate of the Aztecs even if others may not.
-Katherine Pannill
I believe that Neil Young's charaterization of the Aztecs is not accurate. He over- Exaggerates the Aztec's innocence largely in his song. For instance, he says/sings that "war was un-heard of". Which is a complete lie when regadrding the Aztec's. As we know from watching the "Aztec Video" in class, the Aztecs were great warriors and used war quite frequently when takeing over neighboring tribes. However, I do agree with Young's view of Cortez. I think Cortez was wrong to intrude on the Aztec's lives and treat them so cruely by betraying their trust and then killing their king. -Kaylin Tomaselli
I think that Neil Young was pretty acurate in his description of the Aztecs, until he reached the verse that said "Hate was just a legend And war was never known". This is inaccurate because the Aztecs did infact go to war. Also, they were a massive civilization so a doubt that there was no hatred or anger amongst themselves.
I couldn't access the song... so I looked up the lyrics.
Neil Young was correct in "they offered life in sacrifice" because that was a big part of the Aztec culture. "On the shore lay Montezuma with his coca leaves and pearls" was also correct because Montezuma was very generous to Cortez, offering gifts and gold thinking Cortez was a long-awaited god-king.
"Hate was just a legend and war was never known" was definitely not true. Once the Spaniards saw all the riches, fighting broke out and they slaughtered thousands of Aztec. But then the song ends with "Cortez, Cortez, what a killer" and I guess that is true, the way he took over Mexico after killing the Aztecs.
-Zizi
First of all i loved this song. Neil Young described the Aztecs wrong. he said And his subjects gathered round him(montezuma) well didnt they think of him as a god and were scared to even look himin the eye.He also said war was never known but the army was very popular with the aztecs.
I think that Yong's interpretation of the Aztec's was not accurate. He said "war was never know" and they have fought things before Cortez. Also the fact he said that the people were perfect is not true. No person or civilization is perfect.
I think his characteristics of the Aztecs was right, he talked about Montezuma and how his subjects surrounded him which they did. Also he talked about their colorful clothes, he talked about how that "war was never known" because they never really killed the other side, they always wanted to take them prisoner to sacrifice them to the Gods. He also talks how men were strong, the men in that society were good fighters even though they never killed(most of the time).
-JWC
do we make a comment on moddle or on a piece of paper ????
some aspects of the aztecs he had covered like how they sacrificed their lives for the gods, and worked together harmoniously. but, one thing stood out that can't have been true. according to the movie, montezuma II was basically a god to the aztecs and to himself. no one was allowed to be in his presence or even look him in the eye. so, in the line where it says, "on the shore lay montezuma...his subjects all round him...men stood straight and strong..." the information represented is not accurate.
all i could hear was the music but i could'nt hear any words
Neil Young's song Cortez the Killer accurately characterizes the Aztecs. In the song, the Aztecs sacrifice Montezuma. It is true that the Aztecs would sacrifice lives to their gods. The process in which they did it was sickening to me. Also, the Aztecs let Cortez do what he pleased. They thought he was their god. "But they built up with their bare hands, what we still can't do today" was talking about how the Aztecs were somewhat peaceful.
I think Neil Young's description of the aztec's is accuarte because he describes what they are wearing. He also describes as Cortezs being a killer and the aztec's didnt do anything to him.
i think that neil young's song provides a thorough exlpanation of cortez becuase it shows how he didnt treat the hospitality of the aztec's well, he was mean to them. but the aztecs didnt want to fight him
I think it was an accurate charaterization on the Aztecs. This is beceause they did sacrifice people so that others could live on.
Neil Young's song was pretty accurate about the aztecs. In the song he talks about the aztecs standing together with colored clothing for the gods to see. This part was true. The aztecs highly believed in the gods. Also, another accurate part was when he said they offered life in sacrafice so others could go on, and this was true too. The aztecs thought that if they didn't sacrafice then the gods would be angry with them. So they did sacrafice eachother so others could go on. A final accurate part was when Neil said that the Aztecs carried stones across flatland to build there city. This is accurate because the aztecs did build their city with their bare hands, but at the same time it is not accurate because we are not excactly sure that they carried all their stones. Some historians believe they uses water ways.
-david Powers
alright well first off... i better be in the right spot
cuz that moddle stuff is driving me crazy
so anyway, do i think neil young did a good representation of aztecs in this song i would say yes. He did this by the first thing he says is dancing across the water. It also said that war was never known, and people worked together.
i think this song decribes the aztecs pretty good.. until he starts talking about some girl he lost? i lost mr. neil young at that part.. but for the most part i would say yes.
no, i don't think neil young's characterization of the Aztecs is accurate because he talks about how the Aztecs never heard of hate and war which isn't true because the movie had said they were involved in wars and hate is an emotion and it has always been there. however, i do agree when he says they offered life in sacrifice because they really did do that.
overall, i guess the singer's characterization was accurate. but i thought the aztec king's name was actually Montezuma the second, and i dont think the aztecs had access to pearls, since theyd never seen a ship before and clams are located really into the ocean.
weiwei bi
the song is interesting in that it talks about how Mounizmu had an amazing city and a good kingdom, then Corteses comes an rouens it. also it menchons that Mounizmu sacofised people so other people could live, the new arovles that this was wrong so they basickley kind then just for a different way of thinking.
Neil Young's characterization of the Aztecs is overall very accurate. He describes the peaceful and nonviolent Aztec civilization before it was destroyed by Spanish conquistadors, who used trickery to defeat the Aztecs. Young also makes reference to the Aztec ruler Montezuma II and other significant events that occurred in the Spanish conquest of the New World.
No because it says that the worked together to get to the land, when really they killed each other
Sorry Mr. Norton, Moodle just wasn't working for me for some reason.
As for the question...
I wouldn't say Neil Young's characterization is 100% accurate, but some of his references can be considered truthful.
First Verse-
He came dancing across the water
With his galleons and guns
Looking for the new world
In that palace in the sun.
I think this is fairly accurate. The Conquistadors went very confidently to the new world looking for gold and new territory. A galleon is a Spanish war boat, and unlike the Aztecs, Cortez and his crew had rifles and gunpowder.
Second Verse-
On the shore lay Montezuma
With his coca leaves and pearls
In his halls he often wondered
With the secrets of the worlds.
I believe this one strays a little more, but is still not far from actual things/events. As we all know, Montezuma had many treasures of all different kinds. But, I cannot say that i know the second two lines are verbatim.
Third Verse-
And his subjects gathered round him
Like the leaves around a tree
In their clothes of many colors
For the angry gods to see.
This verse is also semi-truthful. Montezuma was king. As far as I could tell from the Aztec movie, they did wear bright clothes, but I am not sure that this was to please the gods.
Fourth Verse-
And the women all were beautiful
And the men stood straight and strong
They offered life in sacrifice
So that others could go on.
Okay, now we start getting more into Young's opinions. We don't know exactly what the Aztec's looked like, and attractiveness is in the hands of the beholder anyways. The last part about the sacrifice is right on, though. Sacrifices were to please the gods and the heavens so the Aztecs could live better.
Fifth Verse-
Hate was just a legend
And war was never known
The people worked together
And they lifted many stones
War was very known thing to the Aztecs, so this isn't quite right. The part about building is okay though.
Sixth Verse-
They carried them to the flatlands
And they died along the way
But they built up with their bare hands
What we still cant do today.
Although the Aztecs achieved many great architectural feats, this verse may come across as an opinion, controversial, and not entirely accurate.
Seventh and Eighth Verses-
And I know shes living there
And she loves me to this day
I still cant remember when
Or how I lost my way.
He came dancing across the water
Cortez, cortez
What a killer
This isn't so true and again gets into Young's opinions.
Hope this analysis sufficed.
Meredith Thomas
Yes, I think that Neil Young's characterization of the Aztecs is accurate because he said how they were dressed in bright colors and he said that Cortez was the "evil" one, not them.
Yes, I do think that Neil Young's characterization of the Aztecs is accurate beacause he said that they wore bright colors and that Cortez was the "evil" one, not them.
Neil Young's characterization of the Aztecs is some what accurate because he does say how the Aztecs lived but, he doesnt mention to much about this topic and mostly the songs just music, no words.
Neil's description of the Aztecs was atrocious compared to the the people. For example, he said that hate was just a legend and war was just a story or something like that. The Aztecs were violent people who thought that getting your heart cut out was the best way to die. They also scanned over the sacrificial ideas and just commented on the beauty of women. Neil casts Cortez in a really bad light passing over anything that the Aztecs did.
No, Neil Young was wrong about the Aztecs because one line in the song said,"In their clothes of many colors, for the angry gods to see." And the Aztecs lived to please their gods, the last thing they would want to do is anger their gods.
Is Neil Young's characterization of the Aztecs accurate? If so why, if not, why not?
I think it is accurate because, it gives correct history about the Aztecs and the way they lived.
No, Neil Young was wrong about the Aztecs becuase in one line of his song says,"In their clothes of many colors, for the angry gods to see." And this is wrong because the Aztecs lived to please their gods, the last thing they would want to do is anger their gods.
No, Neil Young was wrong about the Aztecs because one line in his song says,"In their clothes of many colors, for the angry gods to see." And this is wrong because the Aztecs lived to please their gods, and the last theing they would want to do is anger them.
yes
--Joe Stein--
I think that Neil Young's description of the Aztecs was inaccurate.
First off, how do we know that all the women were beautiful, and that all the men stood straight and strong?
OK, second, hate was just a legend? Not really... they hated Cortéz for sure (at least later.) Plus, with 10 million people in the civilization, I'm sure there was more than just a little hate. Also, the oppressed tribes really hated Montezuma.
Lastly, war definitely was known. They rebelled against Cortéz, and that was a mini-war too.
--Joe Stein--
I think that Neil Young's description of the Aztecs was inaccurate.
First off, how do we know that all the women were beautiful, and that all the men stood straight and strong?
OK, second, hate was just a legend? Not really... they hated Cortéz for sure (at least later.) Plus, with 10 million people in the civilization, I'm sure there was more than just a little hate. Also, the oppressed tribes really hated Montezuma.
Lastly, war definitely was known. They rebelled against Cortéz, and that was a mini-war too.
Yes, I think that Neil Young's characterization was accurate because he explained how the Aztecs had their civilzation and the qualities which made it theirs (i.e. sacrifices, brilliant hand carvings, living in "stones." Then, the song condemed the figure of Cortez and how he 'helped' in the killing of the Aztec civilization by boat (across the water) and armed men. In addition, how Cortez came across water to this 'new world' and became the killer to the Aztecs. The song, in it's own way deffinatly portrayed what had happened to the Aztecs correctly.
- Nina Yasick
- Nina Yasick
Adena Coste
In some ways neil diamond's song is accurate because it talks about how Cortez came over with guns, things that the aztecs did not have. he was also accurate about human sacrifice. However i don't think the song was accurate in the lines that said "hate was just a legend and war was never known" These aren't accurate because they definitively knew war(how do you think there were so many of them?) Maybe they didnt fight to kill but they definively fought. The lines that talk about the Aztecs building their city can go either way. They really built it on an island that was on a lake, so i don't know if this is what 'flatlands' is supposed to refer to or not.
I HATE THE MOODLE...
No, I don't think that Young's characterization of the Aztecs was particualrly accurate. For example, when he says, "And the women all were beautiful/ And the men stood straight and strong..." Unless I'm mistaken, Neil Young wasn't around to see the Aztec women or men. Furthermore, no such conditions exist or have existed in any civilization. As for the part where Young says, "They offered life in sacrifice/ So that others could go on." For the most part, lives in the Aztec civilization were not "offered" by anyone. They were forcibly taken, brought to the height of the temple, and had their hearts ripped out. In addition, it is outstandingly obvious that Neil Young is inaccurate when he says, "Hate was just a legend/ And war was never known," because nearly all the sacrifices given to the gods were ancient POW's, enemies captured in war.
I don't think Neil Young portrayed the Aztecs very accurately. He really just romanticized them because of his limited knowledge of their history. For instance, in the song he says,
"And the women all were beautiful
And the men stood
straight and strong
They offered life in sacrifice
So that others could go on.
Hate was just a legend
And war was never known
The people worked together
And they lifted many stones.
They carried them
to the flatlands
And they died along the way
But they built up
with their bare hands
What we still can't do today."
He says that the women were all beautiful and the men were all strong, which obviously is an exaggeration. Then, he says that the Aztecs did not know of hate or war and worked together. Actually, the Aztec empire was built through conquering neighboring city-states and there was plenty of hate and war in their history and not everybody worked together. Finally, he concludes his musical description of the natives of Mexico with a dramatization of the Aztec building process by saying that they built their pyramids by hand when they used canoes and other tools.
-Martin Forstrom
I think that Neil Young's characterization of the Aztecs was somewhat inaccurate, because the way he describes them sounds kind of like they are savages, but in face they did what they thought they had to, to survive. For example, sacrifices. But then again he says how they built large buildings with no tools but their hands and team work, which is not exactly what we do today to make such things as tall buildings and all of those kind of man-made things.
- Nina Pizzola
- I think Cortez was a good guy. He was a spanish conquistador. He landed in Mexico in 1519 with 600 men, 16 horses, and a few cannons. He was guided by Malinche, who was a natice american woman. Cortez journeyed inland to Teniochtilian. He allied with enemies of the Aztecs. Fighting broke out and 3 years later the Aztec renasance ended and Cortez ruled Mexico. If Cortex ruled Mexico, I can assume he was a good leader and that he was an important person in Mexico.
- After listening to the song I think Cortez is still a good guy. In the song it says he is looking for a new world with Montexuma. Most of the song dosn't have words it is just souds sad and has a very slow tempo. In the song it says, "Hate was just a legend and war was never known". I do not belive this because war was known. The Aztecs fought in wars so I don't knwo why he makes this comment.
-After reading this I think that the Aztecs were wrong fdor killing people. They believed that these sacrafizes would appease the gods. I do not agree with that.
i could not use moodle, so i downloaded it on iTunes (i could delete it later because i had a gift card). first of all, it was like 3 minutes of guitar, and then he finally sings. but that isn't important. i believe he was accurate, for the aztecs have traveled through lands. they did offer sacrifice as well. BUT the women all being beautiful and the men straight and strong was a little exaggerated
I think that the song did a pretty good job of describing Cortez but not the Aztecs. The truth is that both sides had some pretty serious problems. Cortez completely destroyed the Aztec civilization when they treated him with gold and hospitality. However, the Aztecs were also cutting out peoples' hearts and sacrificing them to their gods. I guess Neil Young just liked the Aztec more because he didn't mention any of the horrible things they did.
I believe that Neil Young's views of the Aztecs are pretty accurate. There are some parts that aren't correct like when he said that the war was unheard of but most of it is correct like how he says the offered sacrifices so that others could go on. Even though some parts of the song aren't correct, others are.
-Scott
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