Humor and Its Pursued Strategies in "Smoke Signals" (1998)

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The paper explores the representation of Native Americans in film, highlighting how historical narratives shaped external perceptions, often portraying them through stereotypes like the noble or vicious savage. It emphasizes the absence of humor in these depictions, which could foster empathy and challenge dehumanizing narratives. The author discusses how film perpetuates these distorted images, creating new clichés such as the ecologist or spiritual shaman, ultimately forcing Native Americans to navigate and resist these biased portrayals imposed by Non-Native societies.