1. Edward Sheriff Curtis and Warren Neidich

2. Imagine the following scenario: Your school’s mascot has been an “Indian” for 100+ years. Your school has a long and illustrious tradition as an athletic powerhouse, and the Indian mascot has always been part of that tradition. Recently, however, a representative for the local Bureau of Native American Affairs (BNAA) has been agitating for your mascot to be changed because the Bureau feels it is disrespectful to Native Americans’ history and culture. You are one of the following: A BNAA representative, the President of your school’s Alumni Association, or your school’s Athletic Director.

3. What’s your point of view? What do you have to consider before sitting down at the table and discussing this issue with the other constituencies? What resolution would you propose?

4. BNAA: Myranda (1), Spencer (2), Logan (3), Lydia, Tierney (4), Isaiah (5) Presidents of Alumni Assn: Destinee (1), Shaina (2), Sydney (3), Lexxi (4), Devon (5), Stormie (5) Athletic Directors: Kaleb(1), Chloe (2), Makinzee (3), Jordan (4), Ashley (5)

5. BNAA: Jonathan (1), Hannah (2), Teresa (3), Sarah M. (4), Caroline (5), Sara W. (6). Alumni Assn. Presidents: Jake (1), Talin (2), Alyssa (3), Caleb (4), Miranda (5), Landon (6) Athletic Directors: Harrison (1), Phoenix (2), Jennalynn (3), Aaron (4), Natalie (5)

6. BNAA: Madison (1), A.J. (2), Chris (3), Anisse (4), Grace (5), Veronica (5) Alumni Presidents: Haleigh (1), John’nae (2), Dallas (3), Luke (4), Tavish (5) Athletic Directors: Alexis (1), Danae (2), Jose (3), Austin (4), Sebastian (5)

7. BNAA: Destiny (1), Clayton (1), Tyleyah (2), Mavonata (3) Alumni Assn. Presidents: Nate (1), Bryan (2), Daniel (3) Athletic Directors: Aimee (1), Tomisha (2), Malandric (3), Luke (3)

8. Images shape our perception of “reality”, even if those images are staged, posed, or stylized. The choices a graphic artist, photographer, or filmmaker makes around how to depict something visually are not accidental; they are mindful and meant to evoke a specific idea.

9. Gaze: Is the subject looking at the camera (the viewer) or not? Offer: If the subject is looking at the camera, how does he/she invite the audience to relate to him/her? Focal Point: What seems to be the focal point of the image? What draws your eye first or most intensely? Spatial Relations: How is space being used? (Think about the number of figures/objects in a composition, as well as the relationship between figures/objects.) Color: How is color being used?

17. What ideas about Native Americans does the first set of images encourage? (Consider that these images are “posed” and stylized). What ideas about Native Americans does the second set of images encourage? (Consider that these images, too, are “posed” and stylized). Neidich named his series “Contra Curtis” (Against Curtis), signaling that he wanted his images to be read in connection with Curtis’s. How might the two sets of images go together?