Focus and Motivate
Media Changing Views of Native Americans
RI 7 Integrate and evaluate multiple sources
of information presented in different media or
formats as well as in words in order to address
a question or solve a problem. SL 2 Integrate
multiple sources of information presented in
diverse formats and media in order to make
informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating
the credibility and accuracy of each source and
noting any discrepancies among the data.
SL 3 Evaluate a speakers point of view, assessing
the tone used. SL 5 Make strategic use of digital
media in presentations to enhance understanding
of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add
interest.
summaries
The three clips explore the portrayal of Native
Americans in film and TV.
Stagecoach A stagecoach crosses a vast, dry
valley and is attacked by Native Americans.
The Lone Ranger Tonto gets a smoke signal
message from his Cheyenne friends asking to
see him. He leaves after he assures the Lone
Ranger that hell check in with the Indian
agent on the reservation.
Smoke Signals On a train, one modern Native
American gives a friend tips on how to act like
a real Indian.
How do media shape
PERCEPTIONS?
To emphasize the importance of the
question, take a student poll of weekly TV
hours watched. Use the poll results to dem-
onstrate the potential power of the media to
reinforce stereotypes or otherwise manipulate
the perceptions of its viewers. Brainstorm
ideas that are shaped by media even today,
NA_L11PE-u01s53-msNat.indd
such as physical appearance or materialism.
background
For director Chris Eyre and writer Sherman
Alexie, both Native Americans, the most
important mission for Smoke Signals was to
confront the oversimplified stereotypes of
Native Americans that had been built by
The Lone Ranger and other 20th-century
westerns. Their film reveals the complexity of
their culture and puts Native American film on
the cinematic map.
66 unit 1: early american writing
L11TE-u01-me1_NA.indd 66
Study
RI 7 Integrate and evaluate multiple
sources of information presented in
different media or formats as well
as in words in order to address a
question or solve a problem.
66
Media Study Resources
66
See resources on the Teacher One Stop DVD-ROM and on thinkcentral.com.
RESOURCE MANAGER UNIT 1
Plan and Teach, pp. 6164
Summary, pp. 6566
Viewing Guide, p. 67
Close Viewing, p. 68
Media Activity, p. 69
Produce Your Own Media, p. 70
* Resources for Differentiation
Film Clips on Media Smart dvd-rom
How do media shape typically set in the frontier between the
perceptions? mid-1800s and the turn of the century.
Alongside dime novels arose Wild West
shows. These colorful, outdoor spectacles
In this unit, Native American voices from featured frontier figures, such as Buffalo
the past and present reveal their way of life
Bill, Sitting Bull, and Annie Oakley, and
and worldview. In contrast, many 20th- staged reenactments of battles. Both dime
century films about the Old West lacked novels and Wild West shows presented
this Native American perspective, often simplistic morality tales. To establish
reinforcing inaccurate stereotypes and order and perhaps justify the taking of
creating new ones. In this lesson, you will Native American lands and lives, the so-
watch three film clips that present images called good guyscowboys and settlers
of Native Americans from three different had to overcome the alleged bad guys
time periods. rampaging Indians or marauding outlaws.
Thus was born a source for stereotyping
Background that would endure in other forms.
At the start of the 20th century, as
How the Western Won Americas
fascination with the Old West began with the motion picture industry evolved, the
late 19th-century dime-novel westerns. western film genre burst onto the screen.
While Hollywood filmmakers glorified
These low-priced, fast-paced stories were
the frontier by shooting in spectacular
locations, they recycled the simple
formulas of the earlier western forms and
perpetuated some of the inaccurate images.
By the mid-1900s, as TV became
commonplace, westerns dominated both
big and small screens. At the peak of the
westerns golden age, over 20 westerns
were televised each week, exposing
viewers to themes and images that went
unquestioned. It didnt seem to matter
if an Indians costume wasnt historically
FPO accurate or if his or her language wasnt
realistic. Little was said about the effects
of western expansion on Native American
life and culture. The Hollywood images
took hold in the minds of viewers. Aware
of this, filmmakers of more recent times
have made deliberate efforts to bring more
authentic portrayals to the screen.
12/22/10 4:44:44
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TECHNOLOGY
Teacher One Stop DVD-ROM
Student One Stop DVD-ROM
MediaSmart DVD-ROM
MediaScope on thinkcentral.com
Also in Spanish In Haitian Creole and Vietnamese
12/29/10 12:09:29 PM

Media Literacy: Images in Mass Media
The western is a film and TV genre that portrays the early days of the American
frontier. In many TV shows and movies, particularly classic westerns, the
film and TV industry depended on stereotypes, oversimplified or inaccurate
representations of people. Stereotypes can create misconceptions, especially
when there are no alternative portrayals to displace them. Use your knowledge
of characterization and film techniques to help you spot these stereotypes.
strategies for analyzing film and television stereotypes
A Characters Look for how actors are costumed and how make-
Appearance up is applied. Keep in mind that most often, little
historical research was done to present Native
Americans accurately. Costumes and language
were often a mix of different tribes.
A Characters Focus on how characters speak. Which characters
Dialogue speak dialogue in complete sentences? Which
speak in simple words or phrases? Stereotypical
characters are usually depicted as being somehow
outside of the mainstream culture and as holding
a different set of values.
A Characters Ask yourself: Do characters behave according to a
Actions stereotype? Are the actions more negative than
positive? Notice how lighting and music reinforce
these impressions. How does the director film the
actions? Be aware of camera placement.
Low-angle shots position the camera to look up
at an object or a person. Such shots convey an
imposing or powerful presence.
High-angle shots position the camera to look
down, often conveying helplessness.
Other Characters Notice how other characters react to the individual.
Responses to the Do close-up shots reveal expressions of tolerance,
Character condescension, or superiority? In what ways do the
dialogue and the acting convey how the character
is regarded?
media study
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PM 67
media study: teaching options
Teaching Option 1: The Basics (12 Days) Teaching Option 2: In-Depth Study (23 Days)
1. Begin the Media Study using the material 1. Begin the Media Study using pages
provided on pages 6667. 6667.
2. Show the Introduction on MediaSmart. 2. Show the Introduction and First Viewing
Then show the First Viewing. As students from MediaSmart. Then continue on
watch, have them use the Viewing Guide MediaSmart with the Media Lessons,
on page 68, along with the correspond- using the teacher notes available in the
ing copy master on page 67 of the Re- Resources section.
source Manager. Discuss their responses. 3. Show the Guided Analysis presentation.
3. Return to the student edition for the Have students record their observations
extension activities on page 69. on the Student Viewing Guide available in
the Resources section of MediaSmart.
4. Return to the student edition, page 69.
L11TE-u01-me1_NA.indd 67
Teach
Media RI 7, SL 2, SL 3, SL 5
Literacy
Ask volunteers to describe the plot of a
familiar film western or to invent a likely plot
from their knowledge of the genre. Have them
identify stereotypical characters (good guy,
bad guy, beautiful woman), settings (wild
west, prairie, western cow town), and typi-
cal plots. In particular, challenge students to
identify ways in which Native Americans are
stereotypically misrepresented in westerns.
Then discuss the chart on page 67.
A Characters Appearance To clarify how
costuming and makeup can influence view-
ers perceptions, describe two characters:
one has ragged pants, a dirty headscarf, and
a scarred cheek; the other has a clean white
hat, a neat mustache, and shiny boots. Ask
students what the appearances convey.
A Characters Dialogue Read this aloud:
Guide: See far mountain. Smoke in sky. Me
help Cherokee brothers.
Cowboy: Ride safely, my friend. Help your
friends with great courage.
Discuss how the contrast in syntax creates a
stereotypical portrayal of the white mans
helper and the cowboy. How does the lim-
ited English of the guide influence viewers
perceptions?
A Characters Actions To enforce the im-
portance of action and camera angle, have
students imagine directing a scene in which
Native Americans react to a threat. Ask how
they would show the Native Americans as
either powerful and brave or nervous and
67 helpless. Contrast the results.
Other Characters Responses to the Character
Note that a film may show positive, trustful
12/22/10 4:45:02 PM
reactions to Native American characters or
hostile, suspicious reactions. Discuss how
such reactions reinforce stereotypes.
MediaSmart DVD
media study 67
1/8/11 2:58:03 PM
 Practice and Apply
viewing guide
1. To prepare students for viewing, explain
that the three clips portray Native Ameri-
cans differently. Encourage students to pay
attention to these elements:
the appearance of the Native American
characters, such as their facial expres-
sions, costuming, and grooming
dialogue that conveys the intelligence or
loyalty of Native Americans
actions and camera shots that suggest
power or helplessness in Native American
and other characters
characters reactions that convey a
positive or negative perception of Native
Americans
2. Students may find stereotypical charac-
terizations of Native Americans offensive.
Ask them to identify what stereotypes
are portrayed in the clips. Explain that
the frightening Indian attack portrayed in
Stagecoach was a characteristic scene in
many classic westerns. The Lone Ranger,
while portraying Native Americans as help-
ers, nonetheless cast them in limited roles.
RESOURCE MANAGERCopy Masters
Viewing Guide p. 67
Close Viewing p. 68
Media Activity p. 69
Use this resource with the Viewing Guide:
MediaSmart DVD-ROM
MediaScope on thinkcentral.com
answers
FIRST VIEWING: Comprehension
1. The travelers begin firing their guns.
2. According to Victor, Native Americans
should live up to the ignorant preconceived
NA_L11PE-u01s53-msNat.indd
notions of outsiders by looking stoic and
threatening.
CLOSE VIEWING: Media Literacy
Possible answers:
3. The striking musical rhythms and the
low-angle camera shots underscore the
stereotypically threatening presence of
the Native Americans. High-angle shots
make the white travelers appear vulnerable
and unassuming.
68 unit 1: early american writing
L11TE-u01-me1_NA.indd 68
Viewing Guide for
Media Smart dvd-rom
Film 1: Stagecoach
Director: John Ford
Changing Views of
Genre: Movie Western Native Americans
Running Time: 2 minutes
Film 2: The Lone Ranger Watch the first two clips to explore how Native Americans were
Genre: TV Western portrayed during the glory days of the western. The scene from
Running Time: 2 minutes Stagecoach (1939) brings two groups into direct contact. In the clip
from The Lone Ranger TV series (19491957), the two main characters
Film 3: Smoke Signals prepare to take action. Watch the third clip to see a more recent
Director: Chris Eyre
Native American portrayalone that challenges the old Hollywood
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama images. In Smoke Signals (1998), friends Victor and Thomas engage in
Running Time: 2.5 minutes lively conversation during a road trip.
To critically analyze the clips, view them more than once. Examine
the portrayals, and answer these questions.
now view
FIRST VIEWING: Comprehension
1. Recall In Stagecoach, what do the travelers do as soon as they spot the
Native Americans?
2. Summarize Think about Victor in Smoke Signals. Summarize his view
of the acceptable look and behavior for Indian males.
CLOSE VIEWING: Media Literacy
3. Identify Film Techniques Consider how the use of music and the high-
and low-angle shots contribute to characterization in the beginning of
the Stagecoach clip. How might the effect reinforce stereotypes?
4. Analyze Stereotypes In The Lone Ranger clip, the character Tonto might
be considered an improvement over past portrayals of Native Americans.
However, what might still be stereotypical about this character?
5. Analyze Characters Recall how Victor in Smoke Signals describes real
Indian behavior. Might their portrayal be perceived as a step forward?
Why or why not?
6. Evaluate Characterization Smoke Signals director Chris Eyre has said,
Im interested in telling stories about Indians who are normal, everyday
people. How effectively do the character portrayals in the scene from
his film counter the stereotypes in Stagecoach and The Lone Ranger?
Base your opinion on the modern-day setting in Smoke Signals and on
the characterizations of Thomas and Victor.
68
4. Tontos style of 68
speech is depicted as simplis-
6. The characters effectively counter stereotypes, 12/22/10 4:45:12
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tic, and he displays a stoic demeanor. Viewed since the young men appear in modern
superficially, Tontos actions place him in a clothing and a modern setting. Also, Victor
subservient position to his counterpart, the and Thomas act like typical teenagers, not
Lone Ranger. stereotypical Native Americans.
5. It is a step forward because Victors descrip-
tion and the conversation of the characters
involve humor as well as a consciousness
of how mainstream society thinks a real
Indian ought to behave.
12/29/10 12:09:51 PM
 Media Study

Assess and Reteach

Produce Your Own Media
Compare Portrayals What impressions of Native Americans do you get from RI 7 Integrate and evaluate
each clip? At the time each portrayal was first presented, how might it have multiple sources of information
presented in different media or
Write or RI 7, SL 2, SL 3, SL 5

affected perceptions of Native Americans? As you think about these clips, formats as well as in words in
order to address a question or
Discuss
consider the following: solve a problem. SL 2 Integrate

the portrayals of individuals or groups

multiple sources of information Compare Portrayals In their comparisons, stu-
presented in diverse formats and
the techniques of camera position, lighting, and music media in order to make informed dents should include examples of characters
decisions and solve problems,
the fact that Smoke Signals was written and directed by Native Americans evaluating the credibility and appearance, dialogue, and actions to sup-
accuracy of each source and
Now that you have critiqued these clips, try creating a media award for a film or noting any discrepancies among
port their points. For example, Tonto speaks
TV show. As a class, brainstorm about any films or TV shows that you think rise the data. SL 3 Evaluate a in broken English while Victor and Thomas
speakers point of view, assessing
above the simplistic techniques of stereotyping. What character portrayals or the tone used. SL 5 Make speak fluently. To support their analysis, have
strategic use of digital media
story lines strike you as complex and true to life? How sensitively are different in presentations to enhance students imagine watching the clips in 1939,
social groups portrayed? Create a name for the award, and devise criteria for understanding of findings,
reasoning, and evidence and to in the 1950s, and in 1998 as they consider the
judging the pieces. add interest.
portrayal of Native Americans.
Once your class has decided on the best nominees and chosen the winner,
think about ways you can use multimedia to present the media award. You
may want to use presentational software to display the title and attributes of Media media study wrapup
each nominee. You also could use recorded music that is appropriate to each Tools
nominee, or a voice-over recording that details how one work succeeded where Go to thinkcentral.com. Have students summarize what they have
others failed.
KEYWORD: HML11-69 learned about how media can create or
reinforce stereotypes. Urge students to use ex-
Further Exploration amples of how dialogue, appearances, actions,
Hold a Native American Film Festival According to Native American filmmaker
and reactions contribute to this process.
Bird Runningwater, Filmmaking provides a new way to merge a strong
oral tradition of storytelling with technology and, in the process, revitalize
ourselves. Research Native American films and reviews. If possible, rent movies Further Exploration
to view as a group, and then critique them in a panel discussion.
Conduct a Native American Film Study Savage warrior. Noble savage. Sage
Hold a Native American Film Festival Have
protector of the earth. One hundred years of moviemaking hasnt begun to students work in small groups to identify
cover the complexity and diversity of Native American cultural groups. Research Native American films. Compile a master list
westerns ranging from the 1950s to the present. What historical inaccuracies and then assign a film to each group. Have the
are evident? In contemporary works, have attempts to present more positive group view its assigned film, select a two-
depictions fully succeeded?
minute clip to share with the class, and
prepare a discussion and critique.
Conduct a Native American Film Study To
answer the questions, have students research
and analyze at least one film. Have them write
a short essay, using examples from the film or
films to support their analysis.

media study 69

22/10 4:45:12 PM
Produce Your Own Media
NA_L11PE-u01s53-msNat.indd 69 12/22/10 4:45:30 PM

Suggest that the class break into smaller Media Tools

groups to plan the multimedia presentation.
Media study keywords point to MediaScope, a
Each group should work on a different aspect
Web site that helps students strengthen media
of the presentation, such as the soundtrack, the
analysis and production skills.
voice-overs, and the visuals. If students need
help with the media technology, suggest that
they consult the schools computer lab advisor.

media study 69

L11TE-u01-me1_NA.indd 69 1/8/11 2:58:19 PM