ipl-logo

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

553 Words3 Pages

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

Show More
Related

Analysis Of Reel Injun By Neil Diamond

320 Words | 2 Pages

Watching the film and seeing both sides of the story had made me see the strong feelings against the First Nations in America. The portrayals of their own ancestors

Read More

How Did Edward S. Curtiss Impact On Native American Culture

499 Words | 2 Pages

These images have directly impacted the sub-conscience idea of an Indian, and are the reason many Natives struggle with re-defining their

Read More

Identity In Hilary Weaver's 'The Big Game'

282 Words | 2 Pages

Hilary Weaver argues in her piece of writing; that identifying indigenous identity is complex, complicated, and hard to grasp when internalized oppression and colonization has turned Native Americans to criticize one another. Throughout the text, Weaver focuses on three main points which she calls, the three facets. Self-identification, community identification, and external identification are all important factors that make up Native American identity. The author uses a story she calls, “The Big game” to support her ideologies and arguments about the issue of identity. After reading the article, it’s important to realize that Native American’s must decide their own history and not leave that open for non-natives to write about.

Read More

Analysis Of Louise Erdrich's Poem Dear John Wayne

141 Words | 1 Pages

In a poem by Louise Erdrich, a member of Chippowah tribe, “Dear John Wayne” she addresses the conflicts between the native americans and the white settlers often dramatized in western movies. The conflict between cowboys and native americans through the eyes of a movie-goer view starring, king of the cowboy, John Wayne. She uses different points of view throughout the poem such as herself, John Wayne, and an unknown speaker helping her criticize the actions and values of the character John Wayne portrays in the film. These parts of the poem help get across the idea of the native american oppression and stereotyping. The setting of a drive-in theatre playing a John Wayne movie helps demonstrate the oppression and criticism of native americans

Read More

Identities, And Traditions In Leslie Marmon Silko's Ceremony

700 Words | 3 Pages

When Tayo was younger, he lived in a town named Gallup, where Native Americans are seen as a tourist attraction. People came to Gallup “to see Indians and Indian dances; they wanted a chance to buy Indian jewelry and Navajo rugs.” (107), making Native Americans feel like animals in a zoo that people came to watch instead of individuals who had the same rights as everyone else. As a result of being seen as an economic tool, Indians’ cultural values were an afterthought, causing “elements in [the Indian’s] world [to shift]; and it became necessary to create new ceremonies” (116) because the Native American culture did not fit the identity that the white people wanted them to have, causing Native Americans to be forced into adopting new identities, repeating the idea that the Native Americans are made into whatever the white people wanted their purpose to be.

Read More

Stereotypes Of Native Americans In The Movie Smoke Signals

1079 Words | 5 Pages

The movie Smoke Signals portrays the many stereotypes Native Americans face. Victor, a Native American makes a joke of how they must remain stoic, “you gotta look like you just came back from killing a buffalo” (Smoke Signals). This may be a joke, but many Americans still view Native Americans as outlanders prancing across the prairie living in teepees and skinning buffalo. Once aware that someone is Native American people tend to make snap judgements based on the stereotypes seen for that particular race. A woman of Native American descent often faces these misconceptions when people learn of her heritage, as if everything about her revolves around the fact that she is Native American.

Read More

Summary Of The Native's Reaction To The Invasion Of America

784 Words | 4 Pages

The Native's Reaction to the Invasion of America In 1492, A great man with an idea to discover India through a different passage was given the permission by the Queen to make his idea a reality. Although this tale of adventure and action seems pleasing to the ears, it is a total fabrication on the original story. The real story was based off of desperation of the Queen and a bloody massacre of native Americans. We all know the story of how the Europeans "discovered" the land of Indians, but little do you know about the hardships and struggles the Native Americans themselves faced during the occupation.

Read More

Essay On Native American Imperialism

662 Words | 3 Pages

Even out of the Age of Imperialism, cultural powers in the world continue to impose their influence on weaker nations. In the 20th century the British used India’s resources for trade, several world powers colonized Africa, and Japan was forcefully Westernized. Imperialism and its perceived benefits are harrowingly outweighed by the loss of culture, sovereignty, and freedom that the colonized group faces. The British Raj was in operation for almost a century. Britain stumbled blindly upon the acquisition of India while attempting to expand their tea trading network and resources.

Read More

The Destruction Of Native American Culture In Evolution By Sherman Alexie

493 Words | 2 Pages

Over eleven thousand years ago, North America shows evidence that indicate Indians migrated from Siberia. They cross the Bering Land Bridge and made their way over to the United States. Native Americans were well known for their guidance through culture beliefs and prosper to get what they want. Many Native Americans take pride in their ancestral traditions, practicing in music, art, and their cultural ceremonies. One thing Native Americans have trouble with is alcohol, due to the introduction to their culture by early European settlers centuries ago.

Read More

Essay On Native American Ethnocentrism

1918 Words | 8 Pages

During this era of time, white society seems to have a preference when it comes to the binary of scientific data and ethnic studies. This isn’t always a bad thing as science has helped shape our society and given us options that we have never had before, but, sometimes, the ethnic reasoning behind concepts in modern day societies are just as important. Science, however, isn’t an apolitical field in any way. In fact, many scientists, especially those in more developed countries and locations, happen to be extremely ethnocentrist in their own white understanding of the world. There are many concepts and values that members of society look through with an ethnocentrist lens science isn’t immune to ethnocentrist thinking.

Read More

The Native American Genocide

453 Words | 2 Pages

The Native American Genocide consists of 12 million deaths in 400 years. Whites wanted land and gold so once Columbus got to the America’s they started persecuting them right away. Natives have been forced on a long hard road since being persecuted in the 1500’s. To begin with, Natives came to the America’s way before Columbus did while following food and to escape conflict in their old homes (F, Meridith). Scientists say, “Native Americans came over because they wanted to explore and get away from rival tribes.”

Read More

Colonialism: The Destruction Of Native American Culture

957 Words | 4 Pages

Colonialism has caused many problems for native people all over the world, throughout history. “Traditionally, colonialism is understood to refer to an area of the world acquired by conquering the territory or settling it with inhabitants of the nation holding it in control, thereby imposing physical control over the region and its population”(Bennett, “Colonialism and Neocolonialism”). The problem with colonialism is that when new people come into an already established culture, they also bring their culture with them. When these people come in, they try to enforce their culture on the people whose land they have taken over. Bennett stated: ...in the areas where Islamic or Asian culture, religion, and laws had existed for a thousand or more

Read More

Indigenous Americans-The People Against Native Americans

55 Words | 1 Pages

The People against Native Americans As new people come to America and begin to settle, Native Americans were pushed farther and farther away from their homeland. Their land was taken from them and their freedoms were long gone. White settlers had created restrictions on their land, trade, and freedom which are still in effect today.

Read More

Native American Beauty

731 Words | 3 Pages

The look on her face radiates as the light hit it and the color scheme of her outfit. Her bright face contrasts the the dark background with happiness glowing from her grin. The audience appeals to her personal choice of an outfit with the white cloth flowing behind her along with the bright colors jumping off of her dress and boots. These small details draw the audience into the picture as they view the true purpose behind the

Read More

Native American Literature Analysis

854 Words | 4 Pages

Life is not designed to be controlled by others, specifically those who are considered to be superior to the individuals being controlled. Throughout literature, the others have been culturally manufactured to be fundamentally disparate in some manner. Native Americans have been subjectified into the category of the observed due to the class they were given, the complexion of their skin, and in some cases, the gender they were assigned at birth. It is important to acknowledge the narratives and accounts that are documented from the Native Americans due to the historical value pertaining to them. Due to the heinous discrimination that was appointed to Native Americans in early stages of history, the voices of those who were treated unfairly have been concealed and not highlighted to a necessarily important level of significance.

Read More

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

Related Topics

Open Document