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Bare Boned Scaffolding

Decent Essays

I am aware that this is a very rough outline of my paper. I typically do not write outlines because I find them to be too constricting while I am beginning the writing process. Therefore, I opted to suggest the main points of concession and use this ‘bare boned scaffolding’ as a way to keep me focused on the argument I am trying to make. I typically ‘free-write’ first to get my thoughts on to paper and then I go back and edit and reorganize.

Theories I want to use
• Representation/Expectation of the ‘other’
• Voyeurism/the gaze
• Commodification of culture
• Power of institutions in their ability to shape these influences
• Memory/Collaboration

Case studies (will tie the theories to these)
• Ishi
• Boas’s exhibits
• Buffalo Bill’s Wild West shows (I’m questioning if this relevant or not)
• Couple in the cage
• National Museum of the American Indian

Questions I’m trying to answer (condensed list):
• How are Native Americans represented in exhibits? o In what way does this affect societies understandings of the ‘other’ o In what ways is the ‘other’ talked and written about and ultimately displayed?
• Whose culture is actually on display?
• Who owns native knowledge? (i.e. power dynamics of knowledge)
• What happens with Native Americans talk back? o NAGPRA o How do Native Americans exert influence in museums?
♣ Feelings …show more content…

o Ideas of the noble savage o How has this been facilitated by museums?

Possible organization strategies

• Use case studies as headings and below the heading describe the characteristics of the display and then use subheadings to connect the theories. I will not necessarily connect all of the theories to each of the displays, just the ones that are most pertinent. Case studies will be arranged in chronological order. I am leaning towards this arrangement of my paper.
• Same as above, but invert it. Use theories as the heading and then use the case studies as examples.

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