National Endowment for the Humanities Seminar
Saddleback College
Summer 1997
J. Michael Reed
Professor, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Saddleback College
The Official Course Outline for
Journalism/CommunicationArts 1
at Saddleback College specifies that students will engage the topic
of ethnic minorities in the media. The course deals not only
with treatment of women and racial minorities in the media, but
also the effects of under-representing and misrepresenting these
groups in the media.
This webpage presents a brief outline for classroom lecture,
provides suggestions for films that can be used to examine this
issue, and suggests ways to use Raymond Stedman's
Shadows of the Indian: Stereotypes in
American Culture as a resource in class discussion.
A sample student paper -- the first one submitted for
this assignment -- is available here.
Objectives of these assignments:
Students will become aware of Native American stereotypes in
print, broadcast and film media.
Students will become aware of the effects of these portrayals
socially, politically and economically in society.
Students will discuss ways the media can effect change to more
fairly represent Native Americans in media.
Mass Media and Society
(Saddleback College Journ/CA 1)
Discussion Questions from Stedman
Chapter 4: "Indian Talk"
Discuss the portrayal of Indian speech in such productions as the
Lone Ranger radio broadcasts and telecasts and the Yancy
Derringer television series.
Chapter 8: "The Enemy"
Discuss this statement (p.139) "[in novels and film] virtually all
surprise attacks on peaceful travelers from concealed positions
were the work of Indians."
Chapter 13: "Mea Culpa"
Discuss movies mentioned in the chapter and view/discuss
characters in light of stereotypical roles for Native Americans.
Chapter 14: "Lingering Shadows"
Discuss the importance of Stedman's questions:
Is the vocabulary demeaning?
Do the Indians talk like Tonto?
Do the Indians belong to the feather-bonnet tribe?
Are comic interludes built upon firewater and stupidity?
Are the Indians portrayed as an extinct species?
Are the Indians either noble or savage?
Is the tone patronizing?
Is Indian humanness recognized?
Film Assignment
Students are required to treat the material in at least one of the
above chapters in a review of at least two films from the following
list:
