Indian Stereotypes in TV Science Fiction: First Nations' Voices Speak Out
by Sierra S. Adare
University of Texas Press, 2005 eISBN: 978-0-292-79685-0 | Paper: 978-0-292-70612-5 Library of Congress Classification PN1992.8.I64A32 2005 Dewey Decimal Classification 791.45652997
ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | TOC
ABOUT THIS BOOK
According to an early 1990s study, 95 percent of what college students know about Native Americans was acquired through the media, leading to widespread misunderstandings of First Nations peoples. Sierra Adare contends that negative “Indian” stereotypes do physical, mental, emotional, and financial harm to First Nations individuals. At its core, this book is a social study whose purpose is to explore the responses of First Nations peoples to representative “Indian” stereotypes portrayed within the TV science fiction genre. Participants in Adare’s study viewed episodes from My Favorite Martian, Star Trek, Star Trek: Voyager, Quantum Leap, The Adventures of Superman, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Reactions by viewers range from optimism to a deep-rooted sadness. The strongest responses came after viewing a Superman episode’s depiction of an “evil medicine man” who uses a ceremonial pipe to kill a warrior. The significance of First Nations peoples’ responses and reactions are both surprising and profound. After publication of “Indian” Stereotypes in TV Science Fiction, ignorance can no longer be used as an excuse for Hollywood’s irresponsible depiction of First Nations peoples’ culture, traditions, elders, religious beliefs, and sacred objects.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
SIERRA S. ADARE, of Laramie, Wyoming, is an independent scholar, a documentary filmmaker for Educational Fundamentals, and a member of the Word Craft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. She has been a Visiting Fellow at Cornell University’s America
TABLE OF CONTENTS
IntroductionChapter 1: First Nations Voices on Hollywood "Indians"Selection of ParticipantsVideotaped ClipsSurvey 1Survey 2Shoshone Survey GroupsInterviews of First Nations IndividualsSummary of Methodological Strengths and WeaknessesChapter 2: It's All in the LabelThe Label BeginsThe Collective "Indian"Origins of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly "Indian" StereotypesHollywood Picks Up the StereotypesOverview of "Indian" Stereotypes in TV Science FictionChapter 3: Future "Indians," Past StereotypesMy Favorite Martian "Go West, Young Martian, Go West, Part II"Star Trek "The Paradise Syndrome"Star Trek: Voyager "Tattoo"First Nations Peoples' Assessment of Futuristic "Indian" StereotypesCommon ThreadsChapter 4: Shoshones and Non-Shoshones Assess Quantum Leap "Freedom": A Special ShowingQuantum Leap "Freedom"First Nations Peoples' Assessment of the Stereotypical Depictions of Shoshones in "Freedom"Shoshones' Take on the Stereotypical Depictions of Shoshones in "Freedom"Common ThreadsChapter 5: Sky Spirits in Space: "Indian" Spirituality and the Small ScreenThe Adventures of Superman "Test of a Warrior"Star Trek: The Next Generation "Journey's End"Star Trek: Voyager "The Cloud"First Nations Peoples' Assessment of "Indian" Spirituality as Depicted in Science Fiction TV ShowsCommon ThreadsChapter 6: Visions for the FutureAnalysis of Common Threads: Positive and Negative Comments on Stereotypical Depictions of "Indians" in the Science Fiction TV EpisodesParticipant Reactions While Viewing the EpisodesCommon Threads in the Star Trek UniverseCommon Threads in "Indian" SpiritualityOther Common ThreadsThe Depiction of Shoshones on Quantum Leap "Freedom"What First Nations Peoples Would Like to SeeConclusion and EpilogueEpilogueAppendix A: Survey 1 Form: Stereotyping Indigenous Peoples in Science Fiction TV ShowsAppendix B: Shoshone Survey Form: Stereotyping Indigenous Peoples in Science Fiction TV ShowsAppendix C: Survey 2 Form: "American Indian" Religions and Spirituality Stereotyping in Science Fiction TV ShowsAppendix D: Interview Questions for Focus GroupAppendix E: Categorizing the CommentsAppendix F: Common Threads: Positive and Negative Comments on Stereotypical Depictions of "Indians" in the EpisodesNotesBibliographyIndex
Indian Stereotypes in TV Science Fiction: First Nations' Voices Speak Out
by Sierra S. Adare
University of Texas Press, 2005 eISBN: 978-0-292-79685-0 Paper: 978-0-292-70612-5
According to an early 1990s study, 95 percent of what college students know about Native Americans was acquired through the media, leading to widespread misunderstandings of First Nations peoples. Sierra Adare contends that negative “Indian” stereotypes do physical, mental, emotional, and financial harm to First Nations individuals. At its core, this book is a social study whose purpose is to explore the responses of First Nations peoples to representative “Indian” stereotypes portrayed within the TV science fiction genre. Participants in Adare’s study viewed episodes from My Favorite Martian, Star Trek, Star Trek: Voyager, Quantum Leap, The Adventures of Superman, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Reactions by viewers range from optimism to a deep-rooted sadness. The strongest responses came after viewing a Superman episode’s depiction of an “evil medicine man” who uses a ceremonial pipe to kill a warrior. The significance of First Nations peoples’ responses and reactions are both surprising and profound. After publication of “Indian” Stereotypes in TV Science Fiction, ignorance can no longer be used as an excuse for Hollywood’s irresponsible depiction of First Nations peoples’ culture, traditions, elders, religious beliefs, and sacred objects.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
SIERRA S. ADARE, of Laramie, Wyoming, is an independent scholar, a documentary filmmaker for Educational Fundamentals, and a member of the Word Craft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. She has been a Visiting Fellow at Cornell University’s America
TABLE OF CONTENTS
IntroductionChapter 1: First Nations Voices on Hollywood "Indians"Selection of ParticipantsVideotaped ClipsSurvey 1Survey 2Shoshone Survey GroupsInterviews of First Nations IndividualsSummary of Methodological Strengths and WeaknessesChapter 2: It's All in the LabelThe Label BeginsThe Collective "Indian"Origins of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly "Indian" StereotypesHollywood Picks Up the StereotypesOverview of "Indian" Stereotypes in TV Science FictionChapter 3: Future "Indians," Past StereotypesMy Favorite Martian "Go West, Young Martian, Go West, Part II"Star Trek "The Paradise Syndrome"Star Trek: Voyager "Tattoo"First Nations Peoples' Assessment of Futuristic "Indian" StereotypesCommon ThreadsChapter 4: Shoshones and Non-Shoshones Assess Quantum Leap "Freedom": A Special ShowingQuantum Leap "Freedom"First Nations Peoples' Assessment of the Stereotypical Depictions of Shoshones in "Freedom"Shoshones' Take on the Stereotypical Depictions of Shoshones in "Freedom"Common ThreadsChapter 5: Sky Spirits in Space: "Indian" Spirituality and the Small ScreenThe Adventures of Superman "Test of a Warrior"Star Trek: The Next Generation "Journey's End"Star Trek: Voyager "The Cloud"First Nations Peoples' Assessment of "Indian" Spirituality as Depicted in Science Fiction TV ShowsCommon ThreadsChapter 6: Visions for the FutureAnalysis of Common Threads: Positive and Negative Comments on Stereotypical Depictions of "Indians" in the Science Fiction TV EpisodesParticipant Reactions While Viewing the EpisodesCommon Threads in the Star Trek UniverseCommon Threads in "Indian" SpiritualityOther Common ThreadsThe Depiction of Shoshones on Quantum Leap "Freedom"What First Nations Peoples Would Like to SeeConclusion and EpilogueEpilogueAppendix A: Survey 1 Form: Stereotyping Indigenous Peoples in Science Fiction TV ShowsAppendix B: Shoshone Survey Form: Stereotyping Indigenous Peoples in Science Fiction TV ShowsAppendix C: Survey 2 Form: "American Indian" Religions and Spirituality Stereotyping in Science Fiction TV ShowsAppendix D: Interview Questions for Focus GroupAppendix E: Categorizing the CommentsAppendix F: Common Threads: Positive and Negative Comments on Stereotypical Depictions of "Indians" in the EpisodesNotesBibliographyIndex