Redface
Redfaceis the wearing of makeup to darken or redden skin tone, or feathers, warpaint, etc. by non-Natives to impersonate aNative AmericanorIndigenous Canadianperson, or to in some other way perpetuatestereotypes of Indigenous peoples of Canada and the United States.It is analogous to the wearing ofBlackface.[1]In the early twentieth century, it was often white performers, who wore blackface or redface when portrayingPlains Indiansin Hollywood Westerns.[2]In the early days of television sitcoms, "non-Native sitcom characters donned headdresses, carried tomahawks, spoke broken English, playedSquantoat Thanksgiving gatherings, received 'Indian' names, danced wildly, and exhibited other examples ofrepresentations of redface".[3]
Redface has been used to describe non-Native adoption of Indigenous cultures, no matter how sympathetic, such as the painters in theTaos Society of Artistsduring the early 20th Century portraying themselves in their own works wearing Indigenous clothing.[4]
Redface in sports, fashion and pop culture[edit]
Often associated with the behavior of sports fans of teams withNative American names or mascots,[5]"redface" has also been used to describe "Indian" Halloween costumes that are seen as offensive by Native people, or imitations of sacredheaddressesworn as fashion accessories.[6]
Redface in art[edit]
In 2011,Harmony Korinedirected the short art film Snowballs for the fashion brandProenza Schouler.The film featuresRachel Korineand an unnamed actor wearing "elaborate Native American headdresses and layers of skirts, capes, pants, and tops from Proenza's fall collection."[7][8]
Redface in Hollywood movies[edit]
Westernswere a popular film genre from the 1930s to the early 1960s. A common plot involved conflict between Native Americans and the cavalry, settlers, or both. Native Americans were usually portrayed by non-Natives in redface.
Espera Oscar de Corti, an Italian-American, had a decades-long career portraying Native Americans asIron Eyes Cody.
Beginning in the late 1960s, westerns attempted to depict a more realistic and balanced view of theOld Westin movies such asLittle Big Man.However, the casting of non-NativeJohnny DeppasTontoin Disney's 2013 revival ofThe Lone Rangerwas labelled as "redface".[9]
Notable films[edit]
- Broken Arrow(1950) -Jeff ChandlerasCochiseandDebra Pagetas Sonseeahray ('Morningstar'). Mohawk actorJay SilverheelsportrayedGeronimo[10]
- Winchester '73(1950) -Rock Hudsonas "Young Bull"[10]
- The Searchers(1956) -Henry Brandonas Chief Cicatriz ( "Scar" )[10]
- Apache(1954) -Burt Lancasteras the main character, Massai. (Monte Blue,who was part Cherokee and Osage portrayed Geronimo)[10]
- Cattle Queen of Montana(1954) - The story includes several members of theBlackfoottribe portrayed by non-Native actors.
- Sitting Bull(1954) -J. Carrol Naishin the title role and Iron Eyes Cody asCrazy Horse(also as "technical advisor" for the film)[10]
- Chief Crazy Horse(1955) -Victor Maturein the title role[10]
- The Indian Fighter(1955) -Kirk Douglasin the title role fights "Red Cloud" portrayed byEduard Franz,"Grey Wolf" byHarry Landers,"Crazy Bear" byHank Wordenand "Onahti" byElsa Martinelli[10]
- The Unforgiven(1960) -Audrey Hepburnas "Rachel Zachary", a native child adopted by a white family[10]
- Benedict Arnold: Hero Betrayed (2021)
The Last of the Mohicans[edit]
TheJames Fenimore CoopernovelThe Last of the Mohicanswas filmed many times. Not until1992were Native Americans cast in all the major roles in the story ofUncasson ofChingachgookwho was the last "Mohican" until he was killed byMagua,aHuronchief. The actualMohicanscontinue to live in theHudson River Valley.
| Film date | Chingachgook | Magua | Uncas | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | Theodore Lorch | Wallace Beery | Alan Roscoe | American |
| 1920 | Béla Lugosi | Kurt Rottenburg | German | |
| 1932 | Hobart Bosworth | Bob Kortman | Frank Coghlan Jr. | American Serial |
| 1936 | Robert Barrat | Bruce Cabot | Phillip Reed | American |
| 1947 | Buster Crabbe | Rick Vallin | American, retitled "Last of the Redskins" | |
| 1965 | José Marco | José Manuel Martín | Daniel Martín | A Spanish/Italian production done in the style of aSpaghetti Western,the character Magua is renamed "Cunning Fox" |
| 1965 | Mike Brendel | Ricardo Rodríguez | Daniel Martín | German: Der letzte Mohikaner |
| 1977 | Ned Romero | Robert Tessier | Don Shanks | Romero was ofChitimachaancestry |
See also[edit]
- Blackface
- Cultural appropriation
- Native Americans in popular culture
- Native American hobbyism in Germany
- Playing Indian
- Pretendian
- Redskin
- Stereotypes of Indigenous peoples of Canada and the United States
- Yellowface
References[edit]
- ^The Associated Press (March 17, 2019)."Native Americans say movement to end 'redface' is slow".The Oregonian.
- ^Peter Antelyes (2009). "Haim Afen Range: The Jewish Indian and the Redface Western".MELUS.34(3). Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States: 15–42.doi:10.1353/mel.0.0047.JSTOR40344855.S2CID126754809.
- ^Dustin Tahmahkera (2008). "Custer's Last Sitcom: Decolonized Viewing of the Sitcom's" Indian "".American Indian Quarterly.32(3). University of Nebraska Press: 324–351.doi:10.1353/aiq.0.0012.JSTOR25487882.S2CID161435088.
- ^John Ott (2009). "Reform in Redface: The Taos Society of Artists Plays Indian".American Art.23(2). The University of Chicago Press on behalf of the Smithsonian American Art Museum: 80–107.doi:10.1086/605710.JSTOR10.1086/605710.S2CID191229545.
- ^Erik Brady (July 21, 2014)."Native American activists seek to eliminate 'redface'".USA TODAY Sports.
- ^Adrienne J. Keene, EdD (November 1, 2010)."Native Appropriations: Paris Hilton as a" Sexy Indian "".RetrievedOctober 16,2015.
- ^"Proenza Schouler Screens a New Harmony Korine Short".Vogue.2011-09-28.Retrieved2024-04-11.
- ^Proenza SchoulerSnowballsFashion Film by Harmony Korine.Retrieved2024-04-11– via www.youtube.com.
- ^"Depp provokes Lone Ranger race row over 'redface' Tonto".The Times.Retrieved2 March2020.
- ^abcdefgh"Redface at the Movies 1950-1960".BGSU - University Library.RetrievedJune 30,2020.