Fantasies of the Master Race: Literature, Cinema & the Colonization of American Indians

by Ward Churchill

essays on popular culture and imperialism

Genres: Native American, History, Nonfiction, Indigenous, Race, History and Politics, Cultural

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Ward Churchill (Keetowah Cherokee) achieved an unparalleled reputation as a scholar-activist and analyst of indigenous issues. He was a Professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder, from 1990 till 2007; a leading member of the American Indian Movement (AIM); and served as a delegate to the U.N. Working Group on Indigenous Populations. He is the author of numerous books, including A Little Matter of Genocide, Fantasies of the Master Race, and Struggle for the Land.

Reviews

[Naeem]

Classic Ward Churchill -- a good thing in my view.

I read only the very long chapter with the same title as the book.

Its an thorough look at the history of the westerns and films about "indians".

It left me feeling like all his work leaves me: awed by the amount and quality of research, moved by his fighting spirit, compelled by his arguments, and alert to the new reality he has painted for me.

After talking about scores of films, he gives a few examples of films and shows that he thinks successfully deal with "indians". I am going to start watching those.

one flaw: the essay came out in the late 1990s -- a bit dated by now. but his history goes back to the beginning of the 19th century, so all that will hold up.

The footnotes are almost as long as the essay itself -- be ready to dig in.

[Michael W.]

A clinical discussion of the 'faux' native american culture that has penetrated American culture throughout the 20th century. The author spends what seems like an inordinate amount of time debunking Carlos Castaneda's mystical and supposedly accurate portrayal of southeast indian spiritualism.

[City Lights Booksellers & Publishers]

Chosen an "Outstanding Book on the Subject of Human Rights in the United States" by the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Human Rights.

In this volume of incisive essays, Ward Churchill looks at representations of American Indians in literature and film, delineating a history of cultural propaganda that has served to support the continued colonization of Native America.

During each phase of the genocide of American Indians, the media has played a critical role in creating easily digestible stereotypes of Indians for popular consumption. Literature about Indians was first written and published in order to provoke and sanctify warfare against them. Later, the focus changed to enlisting public support for "civilizing the savages," stripping them of their culture and assimilating them into the dominant society. Now, in the final stages of cultural genocide, it is the appropriation and stereotyping of Native culture that establishes control over knowledge and truth.

The primary means by which this is accomplished is through the powerful publishing and film industries. Whether they are the tragically doomed "noble savages" walking into the sunset of Dances With Wolves or Carlos Castaneda's Don Juan, the exotic mythical Indians constitute no threat to the established order.

Literature and art crafted by the dominant culture are an insidious political force, disinforming people who might otherwise develop a clearer understanding of indigenous struggles for justice and freedom. This book is offered to counter that deception, and to move people to take action on issues confronting American Indians today.

[J.C.]

It’s easy to sweep under the rug all the warped portrayals of yesteryear, the American Indian as villain. This book is dense and sometimes dry but doesn’t hold back and has plenty of footnotes to boot. This is an important topic, as our sensibilities are awakening overtime, and must be reminded, consistently, in order such demented portrayal of a people and of history is never repeated (one could argue is still being repeated). I don’t think anyone will be able to buy into Custer as hero ever again. And good riddance. I think modern storytelling definitely has room for more accurate and specific rendition of American Indians, and its by far about time.

[Ryan Mishap]

Sharp, accurate criticism of literature, movies, and mystery books from an indeginist perspective.

I disagree with some of his assertions about the detective novel--not all of them are about shoring up authority's values, though I concede that most of them do. A fascinating look and argument with the clever title of "Hi-Ho Hillerman."

[Roan Kaufman]

Each book of Churchill's I read offers a lot of very in depth, thought provoking ideas to ponder and learn from. I really appreciate his down to earth writing style and how clearly he lays out the arguments related to the long term media depiction of American Indians as part of the system of colonization.

[Phillip]

outstanding and essential reading. chuchill's rant on ayn rand and carlos casteneda are worth the price of admission alone. lots of great essays from this native radical critic of all things imperial and colonial.

[E.]

This was one of the books for a class.

[Daniel Burton-Rose]

I gave Ward some copies of Jason Aaron's Scalped in the hope of inspiring a further essay...

[Zainab]

Here come the anthros,
Better hide your past away.
Here come the anthros,
On another holiday.

--Floyd Westerman, Here Come the Anthros

Better hide it from the filmmakers and novelists too.

[Pelvis Resley]

Whites publish while Red
peoples perish. Genocide
of the mind: Take pride?