History 2814F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Northrop Frye, Sigurd, Canadian Literature
Document Summary
The bush pilot has entered the canadian imagination as a romantic and heroic figure. They are portrayed as daring pioneers opening up the north. They are seen as throwbacks to an earlier moment in canadian history, a moment characterized by explorers and fur trades. They are also seen as embodiments of modernity because they are using technology to connect far-flung and formerly inaccessible parts of the country to the more settled areas in the south. By flying in open-cockpits and in extremely cold temperatures, without maps or radios, bush pilots have also been celebrated for their physical stamina and strength. But the myth of the bush pilot is complicated. The impression remains that they are daring pilots flying into the wilderness in daring acts of individualism. But they are more likely flying on behalf of a corporation whose intention is to exploit the resources of the land. This corporation is likely to be controlled by american interests.