History: The Invented Indian

Topics examining historical themes and questions in the history of the Americas, with a particular emphasis on places beyond the United States. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisites: Twelve hours of History; minimum Junior standing.

Preq: 12 hours History; Minimum Jr. Standing; Co-located with HST 5500A Total combined enrollment 20 ; Graduate students register for HST 5500A PACE students with permission and override

From European settlers’ earliest accounts of Indian captivity to Hollywood blockbusters like Avatar, North American Indians have occupied a central place in the historical mythology of nation building and, we might argue, served as a crucial foil for the development of Americans’ and Canadians’ understanding of themselves. This seminar samples the rich and varied sources authored by Euro-Americans that concern North American Indians: including colonial-era accounts of encounter, early memoirs of captivity, 19th century literature and art, and 20th century textbooks, woodcraft, commerce and film. As such, this is a course in cultural history with an emphasis on close textual and/or visual analysis. Students will write several short papers as well as a larger research paper designed in coordination with the instructor.