Little Big Man Chapter 1 Analysis
Aleiss Response
In chapter five of her book Making the White Man's Indian: Native Americans and Hollywood Movies, Angela Aleiss outlines what has progressed in Western films regarding the treatment of Native Americans as well as what has not changed. Aleiss focuses on how Hollywood's attempt to portray Native Americans in less stereotypical ways still has some underlying problems that need to be improved. In relation to the film Little Big Man, directed by Arthur Penn, the portrayal of Native Americans is a more progressive Western than what Aleiss describes in her book. Western films have definitely progressed in many senses, yet Little Big Man might be an exception to what Aleiss points to as unresolved issues within the genre.
Aleiss explains that “Beneath the Western’s theme of an interracial brotherhood, however, was a suspicion toward Indian/white differences” (Aleiss, 87). The problem in the film Little Big Horn, however, is more deeply rooted within American society and its treatment as well as denial of its role in the issues that Native Americans face. While an “interracial brotherhood” is definitely one aspect of the film, it is not the main focus, and it does not seem to highlight any racial …show more content…
In this way, the focus in the film is less on Native Americans themselves and more on Americans and how they see themselves as a part of a history involving Native Americans that is in need of further attention. By stating that the film “continues to disconcert and disrupt,” Kugel also points to the fact that while viewed in a modern context, the film has the potential to be even more progressive and sympathetic towards the minority groups involved, including Native Americans as well as
In chapter five of her book Making the White Man's Indian: Native Americans and Hollywood Movies, Angela Aleiss outlines what has progressed in Western films regarding the treatment of Native Americans as well as what has not changed. Aleiss focuses on how Hollywood's attempt to portray Native Americans in less stereotypical ways still has some underlying problems that need to be improved. In relation to the film Little Big Man, directed by Arthur Penn, the portrayal of Native Americans is a more progressive Western than what Aleiss describes in her book. Western films have definitely progressed in many senses, yet Little Big Man might be an exception to what Aleiss points to as unresolved issues within the genre.
Aleiss explains that “Beneath the Western’s theme of an interracial brotherhood, however, was a suspicion toward Indian/white differences” (Aleiss, 87). The problem in the film Little Big Horn, however, is more deeply rooted within American society and its treatment as well as denial of its role in the issues that Native Americans face. While an “interracial brotherhood” is definitely one aspect of the film, it is not the main focus, and it does not seem to highlight any racial …show more content…
In this way, the focus in the film is less on Native Americans themselves and more on Americans and how they see themselves as a part of a history involving Native Americans that is in need of further attention. By stating that the film “continues to disconcert and disrupt,” Kugel also points to the fact that while viewed in a modern context, the film has the potential to be even more progressive and sympathetic towards the minority groups involved, including Native Americans as well as