From Library Journal
A filmmaker and director of the Alfonso Ortiz Center for Intercultural Studies at the University of New Mexico, Singer heartily advocates with occasional rhetorical flashes suggesting that the titular "war paint" can be found in her pen the growth of Native Americans in film and video making. She surveys some previously published facts and observations on Native Americans in film, details selected legislation and social movements in the 1960s and 1970s, gives personal, anecdotal information, presents a transcript of the narration of her autobiographical A Video Book, and offers cursory biographical sketches of over 20 filmmakers with Native American origins. Descriptive discussions of six films by Native Americans include Randy Redhorse's High Horse (1994) and Arlene Bowman's Navajo Talking Picture (1984), about a Navajo woman steadfastly unwilling to be filmed by her insistent granddaughter, the director. The book is not formed by any noticeable discipline, and its diffuse subject matter and cacophony of tones add to its overall lack of focus. Robert Allen Warrior's foreword states that Singer has taken "important steps toward leading" a discussion of the changing meanings of being an Indian in America. More steps are needed. Recommended for special collections. Ann Fey, Rockland Community Coll.,, Suffern
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