Untitled (child posing in Native American costume) c. 1945

Editor: Here we have John Deusing’s photograph, "Untitled (child posing in Native American costume)." The reversed tones give the image an eerie quality. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: This image is a painful reminder of how Indigenous cultures have been commodified and reduced to costumes. Consider the power dynamics at play: a child, likely not Native American, enacting a stereotypical representation. Editor: So it's about more than just a child playing dress-up? Curator: Precisely. It speaks to a long history of cultural appropriation and erasure, reinforcing harmful stereotypes. How does this image make you feel knowing that? Editor: It definitely changes my perspective. It's a lot more complex than I initially thought. Curator: Exactly. Art can be a powerful tool for understanding these difficult histories.