Stereotyping and American Indians

In filmmaking, framing is the process by which filmmakers or, if you want to get technical, cinematographers determine what will appear in a shot. Framing includes angles, sizes, and shot compositions. Framing can be used to keep a viewer’s focus on an object or objects, to direct attention back to a particular scene, and so much more. All of this is done to tell a story. Filmmakers use framing to enhance how they tell their stories. If you think about it though, frames turn what can be seen as a relatively ‘infinite’ view of an object or a scene into a finite or limited view. What we see and how we see it is determined by the filmmakers. Framing Theory, as I see it, isn’t much different from a framing definition in film/video. ‘Framing’ can be seen as a perspective, an interpretation, a certain view or perception of the world/reality. Frames help us interpret the world around us. They also help us present that world to others. These frames are built upon our beliefs, values, and experiences which are derived from our “reciprocal interactions among individuals, social groups, and cultural products”—through communication. Three stages of framing are identified: mental framing, group framing, and content framing (as cited in Miller & Ross, 2004) Mental framing is what happens in us. It’s our perceptions and interpretations of reality. It’s our evaluations, organizations,  internalizations etc of external frames. Group framing is exactly what the name implies, the frames of the group or society. Group frames are a principal part of a  group’s shared culture. Content frames are the cultural products that a group produces (Miller & Ross, 2004). Through content frames groups and individuals (mental) present there view of reality. 

Miller and Ross (2004) discuss content frames that have been historically prevalent throughout the media as it relates to Native Americans. These frames portray Native/Indian Americans as degraded, bad/good, generic, and as “other.” The “degraded” Indian is portrayed as poor, pitiful, and a drunk. They can also be shown as corrupt, the casino Indian trope is proof of that (Lacroix, 2001). The “bad/good” Indian frame depicts Native Americans as either ‘good’—friendly, noble, wise, respectful of nature, subservient to Anglo-European culture—or ‘bad’—savages, violent, evil. The “generic’ Indian frames portrays Native Americans as just that, Native Americans. It lumps all Native Americans under one category. It generalizes, and as a result,  dismisses differences in languages, values, beliefs practices and even physical features among the various Native American tribes. It would be like categorizing all people from the caribbean as ‘caribbean’ without taking into account all different caribbean islands there are out there. The Indian as “other” promotes an us vs them mentality. The historic relic frame depicts Native American as stuck in the past. Native mercian are reduced to icons and are seen as incapable of adapting to modern times. These frames can make Native Americans seem inferior, and uncultured. If a person doesn’t know better, they just might find themselves perceiving Native Americans as they are portrayed in the Media. These frames, or stereotypes if you may, can influence a child’s cultural Identity. Not only can they effect how people see others, but how others see themselves. Stereotype treat is one such example of how stereotypes can effect someone’s cultural identity. It’s so easy to get caught up in these stereotypes when your constantly bombarded with images of what other people think you are. It makes you wonder if any of these stereotypes of frames—the lazy, drunken, degraded Indian—actually help contribute to the high rates of alcoholism, unemployment, and death on the reservations.   

Is it justifiable for a person from one culture to encourage a person from another culture to disregard his or her own cultural values? Is there an easy answer for this question? Is there an answer that everyone can agree on? I can say no. It’s not justifiable. I can tell you how important it is to respect someone else’s culture and how wrong it is to evaluate someone else’s culture according to the standards of your own. But what about cultural values that uplift certain members of society while systematically exploiting and oppressing others. Would that be reason enough to disregard certain cultural values? I believe that there is right and wrong. One could argue that It is a persons culture or society that determines what is right and wrong, you know moral relativism and all that jazz. While I do believe that societies determine what is right and wrong, I also think in absolutes. I believe that there are values or (moral) principles out there that are or should be regarded as universally valid. So, is it justifiable for a person from one culture to encourage a person from another cultures to disregard his or her own cultural values? I believe the answer is yes, if that person’s cultural values infringe upon basic human rights. I feel like as a christian, I should have yet another justification, but I don’t have the energy to get into it.     

A few years ago my class and I went on a study tour to Peru. We we’re on Lake Titicaca in Puno, Peru, when one of my classmates, turned to me, scrunched up her nose, and said “how can they live like this?” I was a bit annoyed that she had said that. I thought, “maybe they would say the same about us If they saw the way we lived.” I didn’t tell her that though. I didn’t say anything. I just ignored her and did as If I hadn’t heard what she said. Looking back, I wish I had said something. I wish I had shared my thoughts, shared what I had learned. I believe that’s an important aspect of being a diversity ally, sharing what you’ve learned with others especially ignorant others.

Lacroix, C. L. (2011) High stakes stereotypes: The emergence of the “Casino Indian” trope in television depictions of contemporary Native American. The Howard Journal of Communications, 22, 1-23.

Miller, E., & Ross, D. S. (2004) They are not us: Framing of American Indians by the Boston Globe. The Howard Journal of Communications, 15, 245-259.