Course information

In this course, we will explore Indigenous audio-visual storytelling on the small and on the big screen. While the mainstream public image of Indigenous peoples in the U.S. today is still characterized by the longstanding practice of cultural distortion and attempted erasure, focusing on Indigenous perspectives in audio-visual media provides multilayered, insightful glimpses into Native America. From Smoke Signals (1998) to Sikumi – On the Ice (2008), from Kissed by Lightning (2009) to Reservations Dogs (2021-2023), we will discuss contemporary Indigenous-directed films and TV shows. By applying a range of analytical methods and film theories, we will examine how these texts engage with and negotiate the popular cultural imaginary on Indigenous peoples, all the while presenting their particular visions of and commentaries on Indigeneity.