Laura Gougeon

Power and Imagination

Prof. Timble
May 10, 2016
Art Museum Power Project: Part B
Dialog 1:
Bowman, 1995 by Edward Curtis
Describe: There is a naked man with long black hair standing on a rock secluded on a body of
water. He is holding a bow and arrow and is pointing it towards the water. There is a forest of
trees in the background behind him. You are unable to see his facial expressions or his face in the
picture. There is a shadow of the trees and the rock.
Analyze: The man is an indian american with very little resources. He is in search of food, as in
fish, because he is pointing his weapon towards the water. It is sunny and hot outside because
there is the shadow of the trees and the rock. The picture appears to be hand drawn because
everything is so still in the background and with the man that the photograph looks staged.
Without being able to see his face and with his pose it proves the point that this photograph looks
staged to someone that is just observing the picture.
Interpret:
Dialog 2:
Zig Jackson: The major symbolism portrayed in the picture is that the cameras show destruction
of the native americans. Looking at Zig Jacksons Mr. Flea-market Man, it was very clear that
the Native Americans were posing for the camera. By the Natives posing for the camera and the
white people showcasing the Native Americans, the white americans are basically showing
domination that they are able to control the Native Americans. And this goes further than the
photograph, this goes back in time from when the White Europeans first came to America and
stole the land from the Native Americans. This is how Jackson is dialoging about ownership in
this photograph by showing power and domination through controlling the native americans.
Wendy Red Star: In Red Stars work, she brings color to the native american dress apparel and
tradition unlike Edward Curtis in his photographs which were all neutral black and white colors.
By Curtis using neutral colors is diminishing to the native american culture saying they are bland
and unimportant and dull and trying to set them aside. On the other hand, with red star reviving
the viewpoint of the beautiful colors of the traditions of the native americans, it is showing the
importance of relevance to the native american people. Also in Red Stars photograph, the two
Native American females are looking directly into the camera which is portraying how strong
and how the Native people are still real human beings and are not leaving. Curtiss photographs
had all the Native Americans looking away from the camera, which is another way he is trying to
convey how the white people have power over the Natives. Also, it shows how the natives are
seen as a side note in society and how they were set off to the side.

Will Wilson: In Wilson's Photographs, he is trying to bring up the good and positive memories
from the natives past and culture. He is trying to intermix the American white people culture
with the Native American culture. In the photograph. He shows a photo of a native american with
long black hair holding a PSP in one hand and a book in the other hand. Around his shoulder
appears to be a native american traditional object like a hula hoop. He is wearing large
headphones around his neck and a dog tag necklace. This portrays how he is a modern American
that has transformed to be like a white American. He still holds part of his culture with him
though. This photograph is very powerful because it is showing the power that the white
americans have had on the native americans by being able to conform them into White american
society. It also portrays the rebellion and strength of the native americans by being able to keep
some part of their culture with them. This photograph shows a survival response by keeping the
dying traditions alive in their community that they have preserved.
Dialog 3:
Untitled, 1998, by Zig Jackson
Describe: A Native American Is standing in a field of tall grass next to a road. He is wearing a
tradition feather hat with a flannel long sleeve button up shirt. The background behind him is a
city with a bunch of tall buildings. He is standing next to two signs one that reads Entering
Zigs Indian Reserve and the other saying Private property: No hunting, No picture taking, no
air traffic, new agers prohibited. His face is very dark and hidden which makes it hard to see his
facial expression.
Analyze: The signs are showing a clear separation between the city and the reservations. This
goes deeper, separating the native americans and the white americans. The native american is
shown to have conformed to white society by his clothing besides his headgear showing he is
preserving part of his culture. The darkened face is to show that the native americans are slowly
vanishing from today's society. The sign saying No picture taking but yet a picture was taken
shows the destruction that the white people have brought to the native Americans by not
respecting them and taking away their land.
Interpret: This portrait shows the power has been taken away from the native americans by the
white americans. This started back when the Europeans came and invaded America and blantly
took away the Native Americans land. This has not changed and come all the way to today's
society where even the simplest of task where a sign says no picture taking they disregarded it
and took the picture. The power of the white people was able to overtake the native americans to
the point to make them conform to the white people society up to the point of what they wear.