Hollywood, Pretendians, and Cultural Appropriation: Ep 23 of Crash Course Native American History

Quick Overview

Hollywood's historical depiction of Native Americans relies heavily on damaging tropes like the savage warrior, the magical healer, and the Indian princess, which Hollywood perpetuated through early cinema, exemplified by films like "The Cowboy and the Indians" (1949) and "Stagecoach" (1939), leading to the rise of "Pretendians" who falsely claim Native identity for personal gain, a practice that cultural appropriation continues by stripping sacred items of their meaning, though positive changes are evident today with increased authentic Native representation in media like "Reservation Dogs" and the advocacy of figures like Lily Gladstone and Chuck Hoskin Jr.

Key Points: Hollywood Westerns perpetuated harmful Native American tropes, such as the savage warrior, magical healer, and Indian princess, dating back to early cinema like "The Cowboy and the Indians" (1949) and "Stagecoach" (1939). The long history of misrepresentation fueled the rise of "Pretendians"—non-Native people falsely claiming Native identity—who benefit from preferential treatment in academia and politics, as seen in the case of Iron Eyes Cody (born Espera Oscar de Corti). Cultural appropriation is described as dominant culture members exploiting symbols, art, and ideas from historically disenfranchised cultures in a disrespectful or stereotypical way. The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 made it illegal to offer or display for sale any good falsely suggesting it is Indian-produced without actual Native American creation. Native voices are increasingly being heard in media, demonstrated by the creative work of Indigenous writers, directors, and actors in shows like "Reservation Dogs" (2021) and films like "Killers of the Flower Moon" (2023) starring Lily Gladstone. Lily Gladstone emphasized that Native identity is about community and responsibility, not just the right to claim a connection. The video previews the next episode, which will focus on Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and ancestral ecological practices.