Stereotyping is a common practice in today's society. What happens when you use stereotypes is you draw on preconceived notions about certain racial or ethnic groups to define a person or group of people. These preconceived views may not be entirely true. Many races and ethnic groups are often hurt by these stereotypes. An example of a racial stereotype is that all Latin Americans are gang-bangers and drug addicts. This is not entirely true. Though Hispanic members of society may be involved in these activities, so are other ethnic groups. Latin Americans have also gone on to become more productive members of society. These preconceived notions often take form on the media, and stem from there out into society, defining our "people".
             Smoke Signals is the first real movie in today's society that accurately depicts the lives of Native Americans and addresses the stereotypes that come to mind when a person thinks of the Native American culture. This story, produced by Sherman Alexie, is a tale about a young man's journey to another state to gather the remains of his long estranged father.
             This tale travels along with Victor Joseph and Thomas Builds-the-Fire to Phoenix, Arizona, where Victor must collect his father's ashes and bring them back to the Coeur d'Alene Reservation. There was an argument between Victor's parents when he was a child, and his father, Arnold, leaves his family behind. Arnold Joseph is an alcoholic, and this problem of his is what tore Victor's family apart. Through his journey, Victor is forced to face his father's alcoholism, and ultimately come to grips with his past. This is not necessarily what life on a reservation is like, but it gives as close a depiction to Native American life as can be expected.
             For many years the entertainment industry has been heavily criticized, particularly by groups representing various minorities, for the way ethnic group...