Indian Stereotypes in TV Science Fiction

<p>According to an early 1990s study 95 percent of what college students know about Native Americans was acquired through the media leading to widespread misunderstandings of First Nations peoples. Sierra Adare contends that negative Indian stereotypes do physical mental emotional and financial harm to First Nations individuals.</p> <p>At its core this book is a social study whose purpose is to explore the responses of First Nations peoples to representative Indian stereotypes portrayed within the TV science fiction genre. Participants in Adare's study viewed episodes from <i>My Favorite Martian</i> <i>Star Trek</i> <i>Star Trek: Voyager</i> <i>Quantum Leap</i> <i>The Adventures of Superman</i> and <i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i>. Reactions by viewers range from optimism to a deep-rooted sadness. The strongest responses came after viewing a <i>Superman</i> episode's depiction of an evil medicine man who uses a ceremonial pipe to kill a warrior. The significance of First Nations peoples' responses and reactions are both surprising and profound. After publication of <i>Indian Stereotypes in TV Science Fiction</i> ignorance can no longer be used as an excuse for Hollywood's irresponsible depiction of First Nations peoples' culture traditions elders religious beliefs and sacred objects.</p>