April 23, 2007

Drawings determined Indian images

Early Native American Images Still Echo

Paintings Dating Back 400 Years Show How Native Americans Captured The ImaginationPrints made from engravings of the pictures by Dutchman Theodor de Bry were distributed all over Europe. And because no other similar pictures were made for a couple of centuries, this was the image of the American Indian that was so indelibly tattooed on the European heart. It's still there and can be seen in today's Hollywood image of the Indian.

"It's because they're based on White," Sloan said. "It's because those images became the Hollywood version for all of Europe for 200 years."
Comment:  This is an early example of how the media shapes perceptions.

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