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Summary Of The T-Shirt: The Annihilation Of Native Americans

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The T-Shirt: The Annihilation of the Native Americans Throughout the history of the United States, we have seen the United States as both the inflictor and the victim. Whether it was the USA as the victim against the British Regime or the USA as the inflictor during the brutal extensive period of slavery, these historical periods of time have been recognized and accounted for by the government. However, there is one period of American history that seems to be overlooked and that is the annihilation and genocide of the Native American people. With the production of this short film, I believe Shelly Niro is trying to depict through the use of multiple production elements, the lack of responsibility, accountability and compensation for the Native …show more content…

Firstly, the costume plays a vital role in communicating Shelly’s message. The Native woman with the t-shirt messages is ironically wearing an American flag as a head garment. I believe this flag displays a message deeper than it appears. This displays the idea of the Natives being forced to leave their identity and conform to American means. The Mise-En-Scene element is also used with the costumes. Each t-shirt message briefly yet descriptively displays a summary of the brutal and inhumane actions towards the Natives. Each message accumulates so that a uniformed viewer gathers more and more sympathy towards the Natives. The final t-shirt message that writes …And all I got was this t-shirt” finds a somewhat humorous yet serious way of showing how America has done nothing to compensate or assist the Native Americans in restoring their culture that was torn. The removal of the flag and the t-shirt by the woman also displays strong symbolism that emphasizes the thesis. By taking off both the flag and the t-shirt, leaving the woman topless, Niro is communicating with the removal of the clothing that Natives are not by any means satisfied by how the American Government has handled the situation and will not take their petty payments as a means of compensating for thousands of lives lost, bloodshed, smallpox conspiracy, larceny of their land and robbing of their

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