IndexStereotypes and their consequencesWhat are stereotypes?How do stereotypes occur in cinemaConsequences of stereotypesStereotypes and natives and African AmericansCombating stereotypesConfronting stereotypesChallenging stereotypesExposing stereotypesConclusionCinema is one of the significant ways where we live the culture. We learn how society should work and how it actually works through stories presented on the big screen. The ideas and concepts presented through the plot and dialogues are the “masterpieces” created by the director. Stereotypes and misrepresentations have riddled cinema since its inception, and unfortunately continue to do so. Throughout the history of cinema, these ideas and representations have not always been accurate reflections of reality, especially regarding minorities. African and Native American filmmakers have worked to curb this problem and provide an accurate representation of our society and culture through the stories and images they present in films. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Stereotypes and their consequences What are stereotypes? Stereotypes are generalized statements or ideas about a group of people. They can involve race, gender, religion, orientation, or many other concepts. Stereotypes can refer to behavior, appearances, or other factors. For example, it's a common stereotype that Asians are bad drivers. Because stereotypes are generalizations about an entire group, they are often not accurately representative. This is because people are different, even within a general group as well as within a specific race. How Stereotypes Occur in Films The way a character speaks, dresses, and behaves is all influenced by the director's desire. Stereotypes are built into the film, both intentionally and inadvertently, because the director's vision of the character may be a generalized representation based loosely on certain aspects of the culture. For example, a movie about basketball may feature several African American characters since athletics is considered a significant part of black American culture. Consequences of Stereotyping Because film (as well as all other media) presents ideas as common concepts regarding society, the effect is that character representations translate into reality. Unfortunately, these ideas are often misrepresented as coming from the mind of the director. When a director imagines a character, he can inject into that character certain traits that align with his personal ideas about how that specific character should look or act. When these representations are presented to the general public through film, they are accepted as common truths. This perpetuates stereotypes. Stereotypes and Natives and African Americans Portrayals of Natives and African Americans in film have historically been inaccurate and filled with stereotypes. These stereotypes have contributed to generalized negative ideas about both cultures. Some common stereotypes regarding Native Americans are that they distrust strangers and that they are alcoholics. Common stereotypes regarding African Americans are that they are criminal, unintelligent, and possess a number of other negative qualities. While these concepts are not representative of these races as a whole, they are often the depictions presented in films with modern plots. In mainstream Hollywood films these days, it is not uncommon for African American characters, designed to be the heroes, to be nefarious and unethical. For example, one of the main characters of Fist Fight played by IceCube engages in extremely unethical behavior and excessive aggression towards everyone around him, echoing the “Black Rambo” stereotype (Levy et al. & Keen, 2017). Even depictions of Native Americans in modern films such as the Twilight saga show Native Americans as being closed off from mainstream society and overly distrustful of outsiders. These portrayals today show audiences that “this is how this group behaves.” Historical representations are often inherently inaccurate as they are from the perspective of a different race. These depictions show the natives as naive or perhaps brave stoics, or even hostile. African Americans were shown as cheerful and comical slaves, as in depictions of "sambo" and "mammy". Other depictions of African American women that have emerged over time include the "jezebel" stereotype, which depicts an overly sexual and/or promiscuous woman. The "jezebel" stereotype grew significantly during the 1970s, but can be seen in films as early as Birth of A Nation (Pilgrim, 2012). While as modern viewers we know that some of these depictions are inherently inaccurate, some depictions strongly influence our current views. Fighting Stereotypes One of the main ways we see stereotypes being fought in films is through the concepts presented by African and Native American filmmakers. By addressing, challenging and exposing stereotypes, they are making progress in changing perceptions. Confronting Stereotypes One way African and Native American filmmakers are challenging stereotypes in cinema is by confronting stereotypical behavior. An example of this can be seen in Spike Lee's 2000 film Bamboozled. The film's plot follows a black television writer and the production of a show he created that is excessively racist in its depiction of essentially plantation-era characters in a minstrel show. The film not only highlights how ridiculous these portrayals are, but also how well received they are, thus proving the concept that successful television caters to the majority and not the minority. The film's ending leaves the audience with the notion that underselling and misrepresenting culture for entertainment purposes leads to a series of negative consequences. Another way to address stereotypes is to show that, although a certain type of behavior may exist in one part of the group, it is not systemic. In the film Smoke Signals, the father of a main character (Victor) is portrayed as a violent alcoholic (Eyre et al., 1998). While this stereotype is common among Native American males in films, this particular film goes beyond that concept to demonstrate that this behavior is not common nor condoned. This type of comparison serves to dismantle the stereotype by presenting a more accurate representation of the majority of the group. Challenging Stereotypes Challenging stereotypes is undoubtedly one of the most effective ways to combat stereotypes. This is because it not only denies inaccurate stereotypes about a particular group, but also denies positive ones about the majority. Most media present white males as protagonists or heroic characters, even in journalism (Owens, 2008). When minority filmmakers choose to present their protagonist as a minority (or a woman or an alternative gender) there are many positive effects. First, this challenges the stereotype that white men are the heroes. This is critically important because it ushers in a new common concept that anyone, regardless of race or gender, can be the “hero.” In turn, this creates.