Comparative analysis of Smoke Signals and Dances with Wolves in Native American media representation

Native Americans in Film

Prompt #1:

The difference between Smoke Signals and Dances with Wolves is striking. The former is more about what life is like for people who are of Native American descent. They are not different from the white population except for their traditions and heritage. As people, they are not at all different. Dances with Wolves on the other hand portrays Native Americans as a group of people completely different from the white population. Besides having a different language, they have altogether different customs and an essentially different way of life. It is as if the first film is intent on showing the similarities between Native Americans and Caucasians and that the second movie is about how different they are and how hard it is for the two societies to intermingle. The media as a whole plays on the preconceived notions of people and does little to challenge stereotypes. I would like to learn the truth of the social structures of Native American life and how it differs from what is accepted as fact.

Prompt #2:

There are definite stereotypes about Native Americans that many people believe to be fact. The assumption is that Native Americans speak halting English and go about with little clothing, bedecked in feathers and beads. They are usually violent and aggressive. Of course, none of these is true for all Native American tribes. Some wear more clothing than others. Some wear very little ornaments if any. The truth of Native Americans is not given much attention in the educational setting and that is why people believe the stereotype rather than the facts.

Prompt #3:

Native Americans are not the only groups which are stereotyped. Even in the modern era Asian people and African-American people are still portrayed as being very similar and all aligning with ancient stereotypes. This of course is not the case. All people are different no matter what their social background or ethnicity. It seems that the media is more interested in portraying these stereotypes because they are easier. It is far more difficult to combat convention and ingrained belief than to play up to it.

Works Cited:

Dances with Wolves. Dir. Kevin Costner. Prod. Kevin Costner. By Michael Blake. Perf. Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, and Graham Greene. Orion Pictures, 1990. DVD.