Contesting Constructed Indian-ness
The Intersection of the Frontier, Masculinity, and Whiteness in Native American Mascot Representations
Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Cultural Studies, Ethnic Studies, Discrimination & Race Relations, Anthropology
| Author: | Michael Taylor | ISBN: | 9780739178652 |
| Publisher: | Lexington Books | Publication: | May 16, 2013 |
| Imprint: | Lexington Books | Language: | English |
| Author: | Michael Taylor |
| ISBN: | 9780739178652 |
| Publisher: | Lexington Books |
| Publication: | May 16, 2013 |
| Imprint: | Lexington Books |
| Language: | English |
Native American sports team mascots represent a contemporary problem for modern Native American people. The ideas embedded in the mascot representations, however, are as old as the ideas constructed about the Indian since contact between the peoples of Western and the Eastern hemispheres. Such ideas conceived about Native Americans go hand-in-hand with the machinations of colonialism and conquest of these people. This research looks at how such ideas inform the construction of identity of white males from historic experiences with Native Americans. Notions of “playing Indian” and of “going Native” are precipitated from these historic contexts such that in the contemporary sense of considering Native Americans, popular culture ideas dress Native Americans in feathers and buckskin in order to satisfy stereotypic expectations of Indian-ness.
Native American sports team mascots represent a contemporary problem for modern Native American people. The ideas embedded in the mascot representations, however, are as old as the ideas constructed about the Indian since contact between the peoples of Western and the Eastern hemispheres. Such ideas conceived about Native Americans go hand-in-hand with the machinations of colonialism and conquest of these people. This research looks at how such ideas inform the construction of identity of white males from historic experiences with Native Americans. Notions of “playing Indian” and of “going Native” are precipitated from these historic contexts such that in the contemporary sense of considering Native Americans, popular culture ideas dress Native Americans in feathers and buckskin in order to satisfy stereotypic expectations of Indian-ness.
