In my opinion, I think he is blaming the white men for what's happened on
the reservations. There are so many stereotypes that are shown in this
movie. In the movie Smoke Signals the Indians are always drinking. Indians
are referered to as "drunk" Indians. They cut their hair and dress like the
white men. They become like the white men. Also, the Indians are shown as
going to bingo halls and playing Bingo. Gambling is also a stereotype that
the white man has placed on the Indians. One Indian even said she wanted to
trade something because that's what Indians do. Indian time was menitoned
in the movie. Indian time is always later than the normal time. Indians are
never on time. The Indians were drinking beer all of the time and getting
drunk. The stereotypes affected their reservation life. There was no
reserevaiton life. Their life became just like the white man's life.
Everything that the white man think of the Indians is shown true in this
movie. In this movie the Indians are shown as beer drinking, bingo playing,
Indian givers. I think Alexie was trying to make a point. After I watched
the movie, I began to understand how the stereotypes can hurt the Indian
image. Even when I was watching the movie, I was picking out all of the
things that Indians are supposed to do or are expected to do.
In the excerpt Because My Father Always Said He Was The Only Indian Who Saw Jimmy Hedrick play "The Star-Spangled Banner" at woodstock. I think Alexie is saying because his dad was Indian is the reason why he acted the way he did. There were many stereotypes surrounding the Indians. I think Alexie was making light of the situaion. He was making fun of the stereotypes. The Indians were expected to act a certain way and so that's the way they acted. The father in the story heared Jimmy Hendrix at Woodstock. This Indian was showed as doing normal activites. Alexie made a big deal about it though becHe was doing a normal thing just like other people, but because he was Indian it was considered a huge deal. Alexie was making it sound like no Indian ever did anything normal or went anywhere. In reality Indians are just like us and they act just like us. They are regular normal people with everyday lives. Things that they face are dealt with just like white people. The causes of the way Indians are looked upon are because of the stereotypes.
Alexie used a lot of humor in his stories. I believe he did this to lighten the mood of his stories. He was aware of the stereotypes about Indians and instead of reacting like most people and writing about stereotypes and how awful they are, Alexie uses these to his advantage. He creates Indians that have all of these stereotypical qualities. I found his movie Smoke Signal very funny. It was full of humor. I believe the Indians were telling the world that they are not really beer drinkers and bingo players. They have regular lives and live like everyone else. They go and do things just like everyone.
In the excerpt Because My Father Always Said He Was The Only Indian Who Saw Jimmy Hedrick play "The Star-Spangled Banner" at woodstock. I think Alexie is saying because his dad was Indian is the reason why he acted the way he did. There were many stereotypes surrounding the Indians. I think Alexie was making light of the situaion. He was making fun of the stereotypes. The Indians were expected to act a certain way and so that's the way they acted. The father in the story heared Jimmy Hendrix at Woodstock. This Indian was showed as doing normal activites. Alexie made a big deal about it though becHe was doing a normal thing just like other people, but because he was Indian it was considered a huge deal. Alexie was making it sound like no Indian ever did anything normal or went anywhere. In reality Indians are just like us and they act just like us. They are regular normal people with everyday lives. Things that they face are dealt with just like white people. The causes of the way Indians are looked upon are because of the stereotypes.
Alexie used a lot of humor in his stories. I believe he did this to lighten the mood of his stories. He was aware of the stereotypes about Indians and instead of reacting like most people and writing about stereotypes and how awful they are, Alexie uses these to his advantage. He creates Indians that have all of these stereotypical qualities. I found his movie Smoke Signal very funny. It was full of humor. I believe the Indians were telling the world that they are not really beer drinkers and bingo players. They have regular lives and live like everyone else. They go and do things just like everyone.