In what ways can historical anthropology contribute to popular media representations of the past, and what responsibility do consultants have to ensure accurate portrayals of the peoples and cultures they study? For projects that combine dramatic performance, scholarship, and indigenous descendant communities, the drive for “authenticity” is often conjoined and conflicted with artistic license, romanticism, and contemporary politics of representation. Television and film work that wish to access “real” Native people and culture must often contend with the impacts of colonialism, issues of narrative ownership, and the negotiation of cultural authority. The outcome of civic engagement and collaboration can, however, produce notable results that satisfy multiple stakeholders. This presentation examines how historical anthropology in the Chesapeake has influenced media portrayals during the past twenty years, to include the ways in which anthropology has contributed to the interface of art/media with contemporary tribal representations. New indigenous constructions of “traditional” culture have also drawn on a combination of archaeology, ethnography, linguistics, and media representations for contemporary social and political needs.

Funded by Annual Gifts from Dr. Joan Roche to the Regina Flannery Herzfeld Memorial Fund

To request disability accommodations, please contact Terry Coward (coward@cua.edu).