What does it mean to be indigenous? Who defines it and what implications does it have on the development of culture and personal narrative? How have indigenous cultures been portrayed in western art history? Are contemporary films more or less sensitive to the treatment of native peoples than they have been in the past? In this class we will survey the treatment of indigenous cultures from around the world with a specific interest in the tribes and peoples of the Americas as it relates to the formation of our national identity. in this class attention will be paid to how international myths and stories inform our perception of cultures outside the U.S. We will examine the way indigenous tribes of northern Europe are portrayed in documentary as well as fantasy films and reflect on the adoption and appropriation of prehistoric myths and plot lines as they are exploited in contemporary film and literature. Simply, we will reflect upon what it means to be “from” somewhere and how that informs our decisions and ideas about making art and art history.

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