Behind Indian Teeth' : the use of humour in contemporary Native American film

This thesis primarily addresses the use of humour and the comic in four films about contemporary Native Americans, largely by Native Americans (Smoke Signals, Powwow Highway, Medicine River and Dead Man). Emphasis falls on the importance of these types of positive self-representations in counteracting the legacy of stereotyping and appropriation surrounding the image of the Native American, particularly the concept of the stoic, humourless, 'vanished American.' The nature of comedy as a genre rooted in survival and endurance is discussed, and its usefulness in depicting the situation of modem Native Americans is explored - highlighting the presence of comedy in traditional Native American culture that has influenced contemporary experience.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of English Language and Literature

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Eliot, Geraldine Maynard

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Marx, Lesley

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7968

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/7968