Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Cheyenne dance4.jpg

Cheyenne sun dance gathering

A Cheyenne sun dance gathering, c. 1909.

Reason: A 99-year-old panorama of a Native American ceremonial gathering. Loads of clues here about the social history of the Cheyenne people. Note the mixture of traditional and modern apparel, the construction and layout of the tents, and the clusters of people--generally males and females in separate groupings. Although we miss out on the dance itself, the exposure time required for the shot probably prevents any meaningful depiction of the dance anyway (walking figures are blurred). Very wide and, I hope, tall enough to merit consideration. Restored version of Image:Cheyenne dance.jpg.
Articles this image appears in: Cheyenne, sun dance
Creator: Henry Chaufty

Support as nominator --Durova^Charge! 07:26, 8 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Comment I'm missing the encyclopaedic value. The caption doesn't go beyond naming what the event is, in either article, or here. Why are some sitting on the ground, others on horseback? What is the significance of the large tent structure in the center? I can't even tell whether these elements are characteristic or notable for the event. Maybe they could have been sitting in any other arrangement in the open prairie, and it would have been the same. Old pictures restored are nice, but they still need EV. Papa Lima Whiskey (talk) 07:55, 8 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Support, GerardM (talk) 10:02, 8 July 2008 (UTC) This is the type of ethnological event that is sorely needed to have illustrations of in an encyclopaedia. Giving an impression what it actually looked like without any Hollywood additions... GREAT !![reply]
Support per nom.Greener Cactus (talk) 19:33, 8 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Support I think the image does have considerable encyclopedic value with respect to the Cheyenne, not so much with respect to sun dancing. It appears the sun-pole/Tree of Life is visible in front of the tent, but no one is yet being pierced that I can see. Agree with Papa Lima Whiskey, notwithstanding the caption, the image could be mistaken for any kind of meeting. Suggest maybe a retitle, as we do not want to mislead the readers into thinking they will learn about sun dances, when in fact the image doesn't seem to explain much at all about sun dances. Alternatively, describe the role of the pole in the caption. It's pretty lurid and will intrigue readers. Besides that, the image does give a very good glimpse of the Cheyenne as they actually lived. I know I've seen portrait photographs of native Americans, but not many good ones showing ordinary life. Based on Cheyenne and Native Americans in the United States, this is likely one of the best we have, as there just aren't many non-portrait photos. Due to the technical limitations of the time, I think we can forgive some of the flaws, such as one motion-blur woman left of center, and, right of center, one motion-blur man with his head cut off, which gives him the unfortunate appearance of performing what might be termed an old fashioned colonoscopy on the horse behind him. Still, it's funny and I think forgivable. Fletcher (talk) 00:49, 9 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Support This century old panorama is an impressive sight. smooth0⁷0₇ (talk) 22:46, 9 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Support. This is most certainly a fantastic and valuable image. :bloodofox: (talk) 04:13, 10 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Support Rj1020 (talk) 08:16, 10 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Promoted Cheyenne dance4.jpg MER-C 06:33, 14 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]