Indians in Unexpected Places (Culture America)
Historian Deloria argues that the concept of the Native American remains frozen in stereotype: a monolithic group that is violent and warlike, unable to grasp technology or feel at ease in contemporary society. Focusing on the popular culture of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in a series of essays, he shows that even as American Indians participated in technology, images of their supposed "primitive" state began to solidify. One cogent essay examines why native people would decide to join revues like Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West show as historical reenactors. A lovely composition about Deloria's grandfather leads the author into a longer meditation on Indian athleticism. Other chapters examine the juxtaposition of Indians and technology, and the use of native melodies in film and opera. The combination of Deloria's readable style and his impressive collection of data makes this title a must for those interested in the politics of representation.Rebecca MakselCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.