Native Americans in Film

In observance of Native American Heritage Month, we are pleased to present Native Americans in Film; a 2-part film discussion series online presented by Professor William Costanzo, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of English and Film.

If movies are a mirror of our culture, the changing images of Native Americans on film reflect our shifting views and values over time. In the early Westerns, America’s first people appeared on screen as hostile redskin savages. As American attitudes evolved, the camera focused more on Native Americans as individuals, accentuating their own faces, languages, and diverse communities. In this series, Professor Costanzo will use selected film clips to help trace this progression and to facilitate a lively discussion.

Part One will focus on Hollywood and independent films that illustrate the various stories told about Native Americans throughout movie history. [November 13]

Part Two will focus on the writers, performers, and directors who helped to tell these stories from their own perspectives. [November 20]

Link information details will follow.