Television
origins in the 1950s
only 3 networks (tough for people of color to break into)
need for LCD programming
22/44 and character development
1950s - 1970s
the era of the Western (Gunsmoke, Bonanza)
The Lone Ranger (Jay Silverheels)
secondary characters, not leads
"the good Indian" - one who has something to offer but must assimilate
1980s - 1990s
non-"Westerns" and contemporaries (Dr. Quinn, Northern Exposure)
2000s
invisible
"The Red Road" - Sundance Channel
"Frontiers" Netflix
Jason Momoa - father Native Hawaiian, mother German, Irish, Native
2010s and 2020s - a renaissance! (or a beginning?)
King of the Hill, Mohawk Girls
Ghosts, Resident Alien, Yellowstone/1883, Rutherford Falls, Reservation Dogs, Dark Winds, Alaska Daily, Spirit Rangers
2023 - Marvel: Echo
Studies
Brad Greenberg (2002) - prime time TV
Mastro and Stern (2003) - advertising
analyzed roughly 3000 ads, of 2315 speaking parts, 9 were Indians
"due to the small number of appearances of Native Americans they were excluded from further analyses."
The two most common stereotypes:
1. Primitive savage
2. Spiritual guru
Rutherford Falls
2021-22, Peacock
A comedy about two lifelong best friends Nathan Rutherford (Ed Helms) and Reagan Wells (Jana Schmieding). The show uses humor, jokes, and irony to highlight the biases that are present in today's society surrounding Native Americans. The show uses a marginalized community (the Mineshonka) and a white community to compare and contrast society's view on their heritage and preservation. While hard-hitting topics are presented throughout the series, an overarching sense of comedy, irony, and light-heartedness is evident.
Michael Greyeyes (Terry Thomas)
Star Trek
Original Series (1966-1969) Paradise Syndrome (Season 3, Episode 3)
Next Generation (1987-1994) Journey's End (Season 7, Episode 20)
Voyager (1995-2001) Tattoo (Season 2, Episode 9)
