Imagic Moments: Native Identity & Literary Modernity

Imagine a world where the only references to your ancestors are through the eyes of your oppressor. They are referred to as primitive or savage and uncivilized. Their beliefs and customs are mocked and translated into simple contexts via the dominant language. All that you know from your past has been dictated by this outside entity. Your culture becomes a distant dream. And all that is left has been appropriated by the mainstream leaving you and the other survivors scrambling to hold on to your heritage, language and identities.

Now reimagine a place where your forbearers are held in high regards. They are spoken of as great warriors, great leaders, and builders of great nations. Your mythologies and ideologies have been documented, protected and retold. Your past has been skillfully woven and intertwined with your present. Your future is bright and promising because you know who you are, where you are from and what purpose you hold.

Much like the history lessons that the public institutions are teaching our children photos and film have helped shaped our current perceptions of other cultures as well as our own identities. Presently with the internet and social media sites we have become more aware of the effects images can have on others. Similar, to how many people in photography's past have posed as natives or dressed the part for a shoot, every day folks are now adhering to the same protocol. The messages delivered via duplicated or uploaded scenes are usually made up, costumed, cropped and filtered until the producer of said pic is happy with what it will portray to the viewers.

How can I create my own imagic moments? When perusing through texts and online databanks of imagery how do I refrain from projecting my own perceived thoughts and feelings? Or even worse: how do I refrain from projecting colonized thoughts and feelings that have been subconsciously drilled into my psyche since birth?