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What Is Stereotypes In Smoke Signals

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The movie Smoke Signals is an liberated film which was directed and co-produced by Chris Eyre and with a screenplay by Sherman Alexie, based on the short story "This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona" from his book ‘The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven’. Receiving a number of awards, it is highly recognized for its plot on ethnicity. The film enriches awareness of the modern Native American cultural experience. It illuminates the nature of forgiveness in a lesson applicable to all. Smoke Signals is the first movie written, produced and co-directed by Native Americans and as such, it helps viewers to see Native American culture through the eyes of people from that culture. Smoke Signals is the first real movie in today's society …show more content…

What happens when you use stereotypes is you draw on predetermined notions about certain racial or ethnic groups to define a person or group of people. These prejudiced views may not be entirely true based on our readings. An example of stereotypes is taking Latin Americans to be drug addicts as we discussed in class. Stereotypes of indigenous peoples are prevalent in the media like our ‘Ethnic Notions’ documentary in class of African Americans being perceived in film and media. Most often, the stereotypes that we formulate in our minds are what we decode from the media. People wonder whether American films of the past two decades that feature Indian subjects, accurately represent Indians realistically or simply ideological needs of "non-Indians”. Native Americans may experience biased categorizing treatment throughout the media, politics, and society. The Native American characters in Smoke Signals portray through stereotypes in a similar manner that various other Native American characters are throughout media. Throughout the film, Native Americans appear as a minority group live in a world of their own, full of poverty and despair. However, Thomas and Victor are able to overcome the ways of their Indian society, their beliefs in the end parallel stereotypical Native American attitudes. Victor’s willingness to forgive his father reflects the lifestyle of the Native Americans who live on the reservation. Because of Victor’s actions they are able to renew their spirituality and continue living their life, but in a new direction. However, Smoke Signals redeems its use of stereotypes by using satire. For example, the “it’s a good day to die” line pokes fun at Indian stereotypes that Hollywood has always seemed to

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