Douglas Miles is a contemporary Apache graphic artist who is known for his skateboard designs. He owns a skating company called “Apache Skateboards”. He says he wants to bring a “native aesthetic and sensibility to the skateboard culture in order to affirm Indian youth’s presence in today’s culture.”
Like the image above, Miles often depicts modernized warriors using stereotypes of Native Americans: the chiseled, tan faces, long black hair, headbands, traditional-looking clothes…But this is contrasted with modern visual elements as well: neon colors, modern guns, urban graffiti aesthetic.
These macho skateboards are obviously attuned with what Hundorf describes as the commonly male fantasy of “going native”.
How is Douglas Miles perpetuating, remolding, and profiting from native American stereotypes? Will his positive intentions spur the equality and recognition he hopes for, or is his artwork pedaling backwards? Is he supporting or subverting this male fantasy of going native?
On another note, his website declares that his work was recently exhibited at Princeton University and the Santa Cruz museum of Art and History. Hundorf discusses the prejudiced aspects of museum culture in the 19th century, but how have these produces continued or changed in the art world of today?
http://www.apacheskateboards.com/douglasmiles.php
1 comment:
Interesting. I wasn't familiar with Douglas Miles' work, but this is a very relevant contemporary example.
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