NMAI_AmericansAttachmentJ.8iv.pdf

American University Students – about 15 total Image Impact Research Americans Exhibition March 31, 2015

Ed asked the students to make associations with the topics below.

(Examples: people, places, time, objects, memories, adjectives – basic free association)

1. POCAHONTAS:

Disney movie, Disney princess, from around this area – Virginia or something??, movie portrayed her as older than accurate, moved or died in England, married John Rolfe, name was Rebecca, died at sea, one child, John Smith, Disney portrays her as marrying John Smith, daughter of chief, British; peace bringer between white man and native peoples

2. THANKSGIVING:

Turkey, fish, inept pilgrims – didn’t know how to live, needed help sustaining, pilgrims were aggressive and brutal, gave Indians no choice, grave robbing (pilgrims would rob Indian graves for food since they could not live on their own), corn, black Friday (American shopping), representing peace, family, slaughter (people), excess of food, cornucopia, New England, the color orange brown, autumn

3. THE TRAIL OF TEARS:

Oklahoma, Andrew Jackson, sad, death, Cherokee (?), westward expansion, Manifest Destiny, relocation, old black and white photos, reservations, ethnic cleansing, enslavement, squatter’s rights, white brutality

4. BATTLE OF LITTLE BIGHORN

Custer’s Last Stand, some chief, feather headdress, south Dakota, big battle, (2-3 people had never heard of it), Sitting Bull (phone assisted), not a fair fight for Indians, didn’t they win? They won! Custer lost! (conversation among students)

5. GOLD RUSH

1848, 1849, Sacramento area, railroad, emigration, Asian Americans, fools good, mining, tons of people, blue jeans – levi’s, not a strong association with Native Americans, failed dreams, big part of history in literature, Eureka!

Cecile showed the students a group of images from Thanksgiving, Pocahontas and Little Bighorn sections and asked them to discuss the following questions:

Is this a strong graphic image?

Does it hold your attention?

What does it say to you?

Does learning a bit more about it make it more interesting to you?

Thanksgiving:

1. “tradition carried on through generations” “how we teach kids about Thanksgiving” “ignorance of Thanksgiving holiday” “back to traditional view”

2. “start of national holiday” “too much text”

3. “sadness” “the war a much bigger deal than history books portray” “provides historical context” “a war happened” “slavery”

4. “European perspectives on Indians” “American rebellion” “American Revolution” “Patriots dressed as Natives”

5. “looks like an agreement between the US/Natives; imaginary Indians” “Immergence of imaginary Indian” “ European relationship with Native image” “interesting, needs explanation” “strong European art influences” “some sort of contract” “need more information on this subject and association to Native Americans”

6. “Native Americans not included in Thanksgiving celebration” “Suffrage Movement” “needed to point out Indian” “historical view of US culture” “diversity was promoted, but not practiced in the US in the 19th century; “incorrect”

7. “Americanized” “making Thanksgiving patriotic” “birth of national holiday” “commercialization” “start of national holiday” “Americanizing Thanksgiving, becoming about turkey”

8. “Very compelling” ; “Where it all started vs. where we are today” “the watered down history of Thanksgiving” “too much explanation needed” “Thanksgiving is much different than its roots” “Holiday veils the war”

9.

Pocahontas:

1. “Image up in Virginia capital building; image is Pocahontas” “not entirely true that she was English Royalty” “Pocahontas was used as a marketing tool by English” “more realistic image” “the way we view Pocahontas is very different than what happened”

2. “image what most people associate with the name Pocahontas; difference in wardrobe from previous image; modern interpretation” “big contrast between this image and previous one” “too cliché though if right text could make a point about perception” “false image” “Disney did a good job of profiting off of [illegible]” “cartoon animated version of a story”

3. “didn’t know the double agent” “she was very significant” “Pocahontas was much more than just an ambassador” “gives insight” “ the reactions from the public”

4. “makes me think about assimilation – seeing herself change, equal in the society she was dressing” “really interesting – dressed in both of these” “contrast double personality” “good juxtaposition” “true historical context” “the culture shock for Pocahontas must have been huge”

5. “interesting the different ways she is depicted – more traditional vs. more “English” style” “have so much confidence to walk in different worlds” “ something special about her to capture the attention of folks for 400 years” “she seems to speak to a void in the relationship. For every generation she is a version of herself, but never really her” “her image changed over time” “how our views change over time” “she has been an integral part of US history for so long” “representations” “from 1600 to modern – the amount of portrayals of Pocahontas” “she has changed to be more visually appealing as the years go on” “diversity of representations”

6. “very important – the descendants of Pocahontas/VA’s family line” “very cool” “how lineage played out” “her importance” “ancestry”

7. “learning about lineage is interesting” “adds a layer to a very well-known historical figure” “interesting historical clues” “never knew he moved into Pocahontas family”

8. “very interesting about interracial marriage/The One Drop Rule” “I wonder why they thought this was needed; Didn’t know term 1/16 came from this law” “a racist document” “shows the prejudice of whites” “interesting piece of history most people don’t know about” “racism”

9. “Interesting fact” “interesting current event” “interesting, the diversity” “cool to see the number of descendants”

Litte Bighorn

1. “resembles a text book image” “a brutal battle” “wonder why sponsored by Busch”

2. “we love to glorify death from battle” “cultural representation” “interesting view of how we told stories”

3. “teaches more history” “need written context” “I should know more about this image” “where?”

4. “ledger good for people to learn about” “Native art tells a story” “Native drawing represents their side of battle”

5. “classic cowboys vs. Indians” “(old) pop culture views” “cultural representation” “doesn’t seem like something that would have really happened”

6. “advertising stereotype” “good portrayal of stereotypes” “perpetuating stereotypes”

7. “appalling” “cultural appropriation” “ I don’t think this would get the point across – maybe redskins football fans” “wow”