NMAI_AmericansAttachmentJ.8iii.pdf

Little Bighorn Images

Testing conducted on:

August 1, 2014

Q. Do you see a general theme here? Why are these photos grouped together?

I see white faces and Native faces

I see a lot of headdresses

It’s tying popular images to Native culture

We’re seeing how Native culture is permeated into current culture.

It’s about how popular media portrays Native people.

It’s about stereotypes attached to the Wild West.

It’s all about Plains tribes. All the Native people are Lakota.

Comments on individual photos:

1. Sitting Bull

That’s Sitting Bull.

That’s Sacagawea (boy, approx.. age 11)

I recognize him but I don’t know who he is.

I don’t know who that is.

That’s Sitting Bull.

2. Custer

That’s General Custer

That’s Custer

Custer

That’s Custer. He is a striking figure in history. We remember him because he got pounded at Little Bighorn by a very well organized defense.

3. Red Horse

That reminds me of a cave drawing, but the clothing is not right for a cave drawing.

That’s a Native depiction of a battle.

Ledger Art?

4. Anheuser Busch Little Bighorn Battle Scene

That’s the Battle of the Little Bighorn. We’ve been there. It was an amazing place. I didn’t know I would feel such strong emotions. A Native American was giving a talk and that was really well done.

That’s Custer’s Last Stand

That’s the Little Bighorn massacre. It’s in South Dakota.

That’s a battle.

5. Wild West Show program cover

The Wild West

That’s Buffalo Bill

6. Buffalo Bill & Sitting Bull

Is that Custer?

That’s Buffalo Bill and I’m not sure who that is [in reference to Sitting Bull].

7. Little Big Man

I recognize that, but I don’t know the name.

That’s a movie; I can’t remember the name.

That’s Little Big Man

That’s Dustin Hoffman.

Other movies you could show would be Jeremiah Johnson and Jim Thorpe – where the

American Indians are portrayed well.

8. Pawnee Bill Wild West Show – tableau of LBH

That’s a Native stabbing a white person

9. Mount Rushmore/Black Hills

That’s Mount Rushmore-the Black Hills.

Why is that photo in this group?

Those are the Black Hills.

I don’t know why that photo is with these others.

10. Headdress (attributed to Sitting Bull)

That’s a Plains headdress

11. Dances with Wolves

I recognize that actress but I don’t remember her name.

That’s Kevin Costner

12. Night at the Museum

That’s Custer at the museum.

I don’t know why he is in the movie.

13. Pharrell Williams

That’s Pharrell Williams.

That’s Pharrell Williams wearing that stupid headdress. That’s just silly.

14. Buffalo Bill Wild West Show

That’s Buffalo Bill

Protocol

Take a minute to look at these images – I’ll ask you some questions

No right or wrong answers

Do you recognize any of these images?

Do any of them jump out at you? Why did you pick that image?

Do you recognize any of these people?

Do you know why these images are grouped together? Do you see any themes here?