Comments on: Charles Bird King's Portraits of Native Americans

Charles Bird King's Portraits of Native Americans

vronsky — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:56:09 -0800

"It's somewhat fitting that a man named Char les Bird King--a name both eminently European yet vaguely Amerindian--would depict the natives of the American East (Creek, Crow, Seminole, Cherokee, Choctaw, Iowa, Fox, Winnebago, etc) at a time when there was a semblance of parity (parody of parity?) between the Old and New Worlds. This was expressed in the dress of natives as well as many whites who lived among them: European brass gorgets and artfully knotted cravats around the neck of a men with painted faces and feathers in their hair. The synthesis is breathtaking: both fierce and fey. It's a damn pity the European influence eventually crushed the Native--this could very well have become our national mode of dress." Lord Whimsy.

By: Ironmouth

Ironmouth — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:03:37 -0800

Yankee doodle came to town a riding on a pony Stuck a feather in his cap and called it maccaroni

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:34:48 -0800

Is this the same Lord Whimsy that used to write for the Philadelphia Independent?

By: vronsky

vronsky — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:12:47 -0800

I believe it is Mister_A, although I am only familiar with his (excellent) Live Journal. A lot of things he posts there are Philly-centric.

By: zippy

zippy — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:21:40 -0800

this could very well have become our national mode of dress. Adam Ant would agree.

By: vronsky

vronsky — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:51:13 -0800

Oops, meant to add the wiki.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:11:35 -0800

These guys looked totally cool.

By: ZenMasterThis

ZenMasterThis — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:12:47 -0800

I would think someone named Charles Bird King would be a totally awesome jazz musician.

By: hattifattener

hattifattener — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:31:14 -0800

Wow, I guess medallion/cameo pendants were really popular around then, huh. [this, as they say, is good]