1. Quick Class Exercise1. How many of you actually a know a Native American?2. How many of you have seen a Native American in real life? 2. The Official Position 3. Why does Goodell view the Redskinsas such an obvious name for a football team,and how does this honor Native Americans? 4. The problem with this popular image, in this case intended to honor Native Americans,is that it based on a self-serving stereotype that has been perpetuated through fictionfor generations. Not to mention, it is an image based solely in the past. 5. Taking into consideration the debatesurrounding the overt racist origins of theterm Redskins, my research will addressthe broader topic of the use of NativeAmerican mascots by attempting to analyzehow representation in various forms of mediathroughout history (especially films), alongwith a specific version of history spoon-fedwith nationalistic agendas, have perpetuatedthe dehumanization, mythification, andfurther marginalization of Native Americansin the present day. 6. Research QuestionsHow has film played an important role in the public perception of NativeAmericans?What role has public education played in shaping public perception ofNative Americans?Why have Native Americans as a collective been simplified andstereotyped?How does this stereotype apply to the game of football?How does the ongoing Redskins mascot controversy, and the NFLsofficial defense of the status quo, reflect racial hegemonies that serve tofurther marginalize Native Americans from public discourse? 7. Datafilm 8. Literature Review,Or How Ill Be Spending Winter BreakDancing at Halftime by Carol SpindelContesting Constructed Indian-ness by Michael TaylorHollywoods Indian by Peter C. RollinsLies My Teacher Told Me by James W. LoewenManifest Manners: Narritives on Postindian Survivance by Gerald Vizenor 9. Faculty InterviewsJolie Sheffer Spintz Harrison Peg Yacobucci 10. Significance of Research- Who cares? Its just a football team (The Native American mascot issue in perspective)The Native American community currently has much more drastic social issues to deal with, however the Redskinscontroversy is arguably its most public social problem. Many within the community view a respectful solution to thisproblem as a crucial first step toward being considered human again within public discourse, rather than being seenas a marginalized ethnicity that all but disappeared ages ago.- This country has come a long way in terms of race relations in the past fifty years or so, but long-established racialhegemonies are still playing themselves out in more covert ways. This is an important example of how the history ofrace in this country still manifests itself in the present day.- Exploring the formation and perpetuation of stereotypes while contrasting the much more complicated realities ofmarginalized groups should theoretically serve to further humanize these identities within public discourse. A societyin which everyones voice is heard is beneficial to everyone who lives within it, which is a mentality that can be appliedto any number of groups who view themselves as oppressed, misrepresented, or somehow mythified. 11. Limitations 12. - Number of films- Time- A comprehensive survey to gauge general publics interest level on this issue 13. Q & A