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Stereotypes of Contemporary Native American Indian Characters in Recent Popular Media Virginia A

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Stereotypes of Contemporary Native American Indian Characters in Recent Popular Media Virginia A University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 2012 Stereotypes of Contemporary Native American Indian Characters in Recent Popular Media Virginia A. Mclaurin University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses Part of the American Popular Culture Commons, Film and Media Studies Commons, Indigenous Studies Commons, and the Television Commons Mclaurin, Virginia A., "Stereotypes of Contemporary Native American Indian Characters in Recent Popular Media" (2012). Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014. 830. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses/830 This thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Stereotypes of Contemporary Native American Indian Characters in Recent Popular Media A Thesis Presented by Virginia A. McLaurin Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS May 2012 Department of Anthropology Sociocultural Anthropology Stereotypes of Contemporary Native American Indian Characters in Recent Popular Media A Thesis Presented by Virginia A. McLaurin Approved as to style and content by: _________________________________________________ Jean Forward, Chair _________________________________________________ Robert Paynter, Member _________________________________________________ Jane Anderson, Member _________________________________________________ Elizabeth Chilton, Department Chair Anthropology Department DEDICATION To my wonderful fiancé Max, as well as my incredibly supportive parents, friends and entire family. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my advisor, Jean Forward, not only for her support and guidance but also for kindness and general character. I would also like to thank Bob Paynter for his insightful comments, and Jane Anderson for her dedication to my intellectual development. I have been exceptionally fortunate for the opportunity to work with such incredible scholars. A special thanks to all of my professors, peers, and friends who have offered their unwavering support in my academic endeavors. I have truly appreciated it. iv ABSTRACT STEREOTYPES OF CONTEMPORARY NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN CHARACTERS IN RECENT POPULAR MEDIA MAY 2012 VIRGINIA MCLAURIN, B.A., EMORY UNIVERSITY M.A., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Jean Forward This thesis examines the ongoing trends in depictions of Native American Indians in popular mainstream media from the last two decades. Stereotypes in general and in relation to Native American Indians are discussed, and a pattern of stereotype reactions to colonists’ perceived strains is identified. An analysis of popular television shows, movies, and books with contemporary Native characters will demonstrate new trends which we might consider transformed or emerging stereotypes of Native people in non- Native media. These trends will not only be shown to have emerged from more general national and regional stereotypes of Native identity, but will also demonstrate a continuation of the historical willingness of colonists to rely on more virulent Native stereotypes in cases where they perceive some Native threat. Particular attention will be paid to the denial of Indian identity in the southeast and northeast through comedy and mockery and, on the other hand, the exaggeration of Indian identity in the western United States through shape-shifting, paranormal encounters, mystery, and more conventional Native interests. At the end of the thesis, some possible methods for grappling with these problematic portrayals will be discussed. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iv ABSTRACT .........................................................................................................................v LIST OF TABLES ...............................................................................................................x CHAPTER I. AN INTRODUCTION TO STEREOTYPES…………………………………………..1 A. Opening ...............................................................................................................1 B. Defining Stereotypes ...........................................................................................2 C. The Creation of Stereotypes ................................................................................7 D. Impacts of Stereotypes ......................................................................................12 E. Other Concerns over Stereotyping ....................................................................13 F. Conclusion .........................................................................................................15 II. NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN STEREOTYPES ......................................................17 A. Opening .............................................................................................................17 B. A Short History of Native Stereotyping in General/Worldwide .......................17 C. A Short History of Native Stereotyping in the United States ...........................20 D. Continued/Modern Stereotyping .......................................................................40 E. Sustained Concern from Native Communities ..................................................42 F. Conclusion: Morphing or Newly Emerging Native Stereotypes .......................43 III. METHODS AND BOUNDARIES OF THE DATA FOR THE THESIS ...................45 A. Opening: Delimitations of the Thesis ...............................................................45 B. Recent Popular Media within the United States................................................45 C. Focus on Native American Indians within the United States............................48 D. Discussion of Specific Data ..............................................................................50 vi E. Conclusion .........................................................................................................51 IV. INTRODUCTION TO DATA FINDINGS .................................................................52 A. Opening .............................................................................................................52 B. Discussion of the Disparate Geography of U.S. Colonization ..........................52 C. Theoretical Discussion of Geographical Stereotypes and Representation ........53 D. Justification for Geographic Presentation .........................................................54 E. Discussion of the Data .......................................................................................57 F. Conclusion .........................................................................................................66 V. DISCUSSION: EAST ...................................................................................................67 A. Opening .............................................................................................................67 B. Pop Media Expressions for the East ..................................................................67 C. Language Discussion.........................................................................................75 D. The Use of Regional Stereotypes ......................................................................79 E. Conclusion .........................................................................................................82 VI. DISCUSSION: WEST .................................................................................................83 A. Opening .............................................................................................................83 B. Pop Media Expressions for the West ................................................................83 C. Language Discussion.........................................................................................93 D. The Use of Regional Stereotypes ......................................................................96 E. Conclusion .........................................................................................................99 VII. CONCLUSIONS: MECHANISMS FOR CHANGE ...............................................101 A. Opening ...........................................................................................................101 B. Education .........................................................................................................102 C. Native Media ...................................................................................................103 D. Communication with Mainstream Media .......................................................104 E. Protocols for Media Use ..................................................................................107 F. Conclusion .......................................................................................................109 vii APPENDICES A. LIST OF CODED MEDIA AND THEIR APPROXIMATE LOCATIONS ...........................................................................................114 B. LIST OF FEATURES FOR MEDIA CODING AND THEIR EXPLICATIONS .....................................................................................117
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