American Indian Images
English 350-276
T TH 6:00 – 8:05
Curtin 321
Course Web Page:
http://www.uwm.edu/~michael/276sum03
Michael D. Wilson
michael@uwm.edu
Phone: (414) 229-4839
Office Hours: After class
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this course, we will examine well-known images of North American Indians in art, literature, film,
and popular culture.
We will read works of short fiction, look at films, and view images of American Indian people in a
multimedia classroom. We will consider why these images proliferate in America, and how they
relate, if at all, to the complex social and political situation of indigenous people today.
REQUIRED TEXT
Available at the Campus Book Store
The Earth Shall Weep, James Wilson
COURSE REQUIREMENTS & POLICIES
Students must have access to email on a daily basis. You will be subscribed to an electronic
mailing list for the class: Native-Lit2@uwm.edu. This list will contain response writing from the
class, updates, assignments, and other information.
There are three components to the course:
1) Responses. Students should respond to the group work done in class. (We will
probably not have group work every day.) You may either comment on your own
contributions to the group, or to something else that interested you in the group
efforts. Students should feel free to experiment with these responses: concerns about
grammar and punctuation are not especially important here, but the writing should be
understandable and interesting. Email these responses to Michael@uwm.edu.
Responses for Monday classes are due on Thurday; response to Tuesday classes are
due on Friday; responses for Thursday classes are due Monday. This portion of the
class counts for 20 percent of your course grade.
2) Quizzes. We will have a short quiz on most of the days of class to help you keep up
with the reading. The quizzes count for 20 percent of your grade.
3) Short Papers. Students are also required to write more formal 1 ½ page to 2 page
papers (two lengthy paragraphs, 400-500 words) to each week’s topics except the last
week. Each of these responses must pertain to the topic of the week (e.g., warriors,
environment) and must provide insightful commentary about a still image, or an
image from the literature or film. The most important aspects of these papers are
insightful commentary and a good, strong topic sentence. Email these responses to
Michael@uwm.edu. The short papers count for 30 percent of your course grade. They
are due the Wednesday of the following week.
● The first week’s section will be the introduction about the concept of ideology.
● Each week, add the previous week’s short paper so that it grows in length toward
your final paper.
4) Final Paper. The final paper is the combination of the short papers with an
introduction about ideology and conclusion on your own. The paper will therefore be
comprised of the following: an introduction on the concept of ideology, five sections
about the course, and a conclusion. These papers will be around 10 – 15 pages in
length. Students should also make other editorial adjustments as necessary, including
transitions and better topic sentences. Email this final paper to Michael@uwm.edu by
July 7th, 2002. The final paper counts 30 percent of your course grade.
INCOMPLETE POLICY
Students will receive “incompletes” in the cases of documented health emergencies or other
catastrophic emergencies.
Late papers will be accepted only with prior approval from the instructor. Papers turned in late
without prior approval will be returned without an assigned grade.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Academic honesty is fundamental to the activities and principles of a university. All members of
the academic community must be confident that each person’s work has been responsibly and
honorably acquired, developed, and presented. Any effort to gain an advantage not given to all
students is dishonest whether or not the effort is successful. The academic community regards
academic dishonesty as an extremely serious matter, with serious consequences that range from
probation to expulsion. When in doubt about plagiarism, paraphrasing, quoting, or collaboration,
consult with your instructor. Students who engage in plagiarism will receive a failing grade for
the course.
Summer 2003
NOTE: Approximate Schedule
Week 1: Introduction
Question: How does ideology affect our interpretation of images?
Tuesday
The Images and the Ideologies that Produce Them
Thursday
The concept of ideology continued
Review of images for the class
Reading assignment on ideology
Week 2: Vanishing Indians
Question:
Monday
Images of the Vanishing Indian: Ideas of Evolution
Chapters 10 and 11, Earth Shall Weep
Tuesday
Documentary: Lighting the Seventh Fire
Thursday
Short story: “”The Hyatt, the Maori, and the Yanamamo” Morris
Short story: "Only Approved Indians Can Play" Forbes
Short Non-fiction pieces: Email
Week 3: Playing Indian
Monday
Images: Playing and Selling Indians
Chapters 1 and 2, Earth Shall Weep
Tuesday
Documentary: White Shamans and Plastic Medicine Men
Thursday
Short story: “Adventures of an Indian Princess”
Short story: “Bravura”
Non-fiction excerpts: Email
Week 4: Warriors and Mascots
Monday
Images: The Concept of the Man
Chapters 3 and 4, Earth Shall Weep
Tuesday
Documtary: In Whose Honor: American Indian Mascots in Sports
Thursday
Short story: “Warriors” Anna Lee Walters
Short story: “"A Geronimo Story" Silko
Non-fiction excerpts: Email
Week 5: Wealth and Poverty
Monday
Images: Historical Poverty and Casino Wealth
Chapters 8 and 9, Earth Shall Weep
Tuesday
Documentary: In the Spirit of Crazy Horse
Thursday
Short story: “The Bingo Van,” Louise Erdrich
Short story: “"Summer Girl” Roberta Hill
Non-fiction excerpts: Email
Week 6: Art by Indigenous Peoples
Monday
Images: A Sampling from Indigenous Artists
Chapter 7 and 12, Earth Shall Weep
Tuesday
Documentary: Institute of American Indian Arts
Thursday
Short story, “Yellow Woman,” Leslie Silko
Short Story, “"Man to Send Rain Clouds" Leslie Silko
Non-Fiction excerpts: Email