What is the popular perception of the indigenous peoples in the media today? How do media constructions of Native people tell us as much, if not more, about American identity than the indigenous peoples they depict? How do these various representations impact the indigenous people whose images are featured in documentaries, films, television shows, and internet media? How are Native American people taking charge of their image and stories through media production? This course explores the construction and depiction of Native American and Indigenous identity, history, culture, and language and some of America's major issues facing contemporary indigenous peoples through film and media. We will examine issues of representation, visual and textual imagery, and aesthetically distinctive but recognizable design choices that often stand in for Indigenous media. We will view award-winning films, theater depictions, television episodes, internet media, social media, comic books, and documentaries to explore these issues.

Elective

Native American oral traditions, which include storytelling, teachings, family and tribal history, and contemporary Indian literature, lie at the heart of tribal culture. It is mainly through oral tradition that American Indian cultures have been preserved and transmitted through the generations. American Indian stories, teachings, and oral histories are rich in cultural context. They provide great insight into the worldview, values, and lifestyle, which are an integral part of the heritage of American Indians. This course examines the cultural and historical contexts of Native American and Indigenous oral traditions with a focus in North America and other Indigenous traditions.

Elective