Indigi-realism and “Aye!”sthetics

Abstract In this chapter, the author turns to Diné concepts and overall Indigenous community features (language, accessories, and epistemologies) to demonstrate that Indigenous televisual stories are restorative and evocative of Indigi-realism through Indigenous “ ‘Aye!’sthetics” as storytelling autonomy. “Aye!”sthetics fuses the Turtle Island Indigenous utterance “Aye!” that expresses joking and joy with the beauty and autonomy of on-screen presence and Indigenous existence. Two Indigenous-centered television shows, Reservation Dogs and Rutherford Falls, showcase Indigenous aesthetics, or what I explore as “Aye!”sthetics that offer a glimpse of Indigi-realism in visual storytelling. The author introduces Diné (Navajo) epistemologies as a framework to interrogate Indigenous realities on screen. By focusing on select scenes from the combined thirty-six episodes of each series, the author highlights the beauty, laughter, and resilience of Indigenous peoples, eclipsing heartbreak and adversity.