Reel Injun

Reel Injun, directed by Neil Diamond, is a movie about the portrayal of Native Americans. It shows how in different time periods Native Americans were portrayed in different ways. In the movie it shows what was portrayed incorrectly about the Native Americans for example it showed how they all wore headbands, while only one tribe of Native Americans actually did that. In a review written by James Adams he says that the film is informative on how Native Americans have been shown on screen and how these films have shaped peoples thoughts about them. This is very true again for the example of the headbands only one tribe wore them but then all the Native Americans in the movies started to wear them. I have always known that everything in the movies is not true but watching this confirmed that. This makes me think that I should not just rely on the movies to tell me about things but rather do some research to find out what is actually true. It is important also not just to go off stereotypes, but rather figure out how somebody really is. It also makes me wonder what other things are stereotyped about other groups of people. It makes me wonder if I am thinking something to be true that in reality is completely not. One thing that I thought was funny was when the Native Americans were filming for a movie they would have to speak their native languages and would make up their own lines. Then in response the American would say their lines and the whole conversation would not really make sense, but it was a way for the Native Americans to get back at the Americans.