Rez territory. Symbols and cultural contexts of Indian reservation landscape in contemporary Northern American cinema and comic books Cover Image

Terytorium rezu. Symbolika oraz kulturowe konteksty krajobrazu indiańskiego rezerwatu we współczesnym północnoamerykańskim kinie i komiksie
Rez territory. Symbols and cultural contexts of Indian reservation landscape in contemporary Northern American cinema and comic books

Author(s): Magdalena Kempna-Pieniążek
Subject(s): Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Film / Cinema / Cinematography
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Komisji Edukacji Narodowej w Krakowie
Keywords: Indian reservation in film and comic books; native Americans and cinema; Wounded Knee

Summary/Abstract: Poor houses, trailers scattered in wilderness, inhabited by degenerated people, dusty roads full of old cars – the landscape of Indian reservation in contemporary audiovisual culture is marked with symptoms of degradation. In the same time, places where social problems – especially alcoholism and unemployment – have been so vividly manifested, become a part of various discourses of marginalization, intolerance, alienation and social stigmatization. “Rez’s” landscape in film and comic books becomes a dark mirror for the official American culture symbolized by Mount Rushmore, in whose shadow lies the Lakota Pine Ridge reservation. In her analysis of selected films and comic books, the author shows different aspects of rez’s symbols and cultural contexts. In such films as Chris Eyre’s Skins or Michael Apted’s Thunderheart and Jason Aaron and R.M. Guéra’s comic book series Scalped, Indian reservation is shown almost as an apocalyptic territory and – in the same time – as a dark side of America. On the other hand, in Eyre’s Smoke Signals or Michael Linn’s Imprint, rez is a mythic place of cross-generation encounters.

  • Issue Year: 9/2017
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 30-38
  • Page Count: 9
  • Language: Polish