Current Forum: Session 1: Images and Representation	Read 11 times 	
Date: 15-Jan-2001 22:29:28	
Author: FIELD, KATHRYN L. <klf7188@garnet.acns.fsu.edu>	
Subject: Stereotypes 	
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       Stereotypes are not as “necessary” as they are “inevitable.”  Lippmann claims that stereotypes familiarize our ever changing world-- “we define first and then see.” Aaron Simmons said we use stereotypes all the time and he even related it to breathing. Society depends and even thrives on stereotypes. We are in the habit of classifying everything. Race, religious preference, sexual orientation and even type of clothing is how we organize ourselves and others. And of course, particular characteristics are equated to particular stereotypes such as the ever popular “all blondes are dumb.” There will always be stereotypes because we will never truly know everyone. 
       Stereotypes are sometimes the closest we come to acquainting ourselves with others.        
       In viewing D.W. Griffith’s The Battle at Elderbush Gulch, one can easily pick out the stereotypical characters immediately: the middle class white settler, the helpless woman, the mighty calvary soldier and the savage Indian. Griffith plays on each of these stereotypes, especially with the roles of the women and the Indians. Women are portrayed as weak and even better dead than left to be raped by the uncivilized Indians. However, one instance does not meet these criteria. That is of the young girl who charges out into battle in order to save the baby. This is not likely of the helpless female. 
       The Indians in the film are portrayed as savages who are so uncivilized that they feast on dog, get drunk and sleep outside. It is interesting how they are only seen through long camera shots and only through the eyes of the white settlers. Viewers of Elderbush Gulch, especially during Griffith’s time, would walk away believing that all Indians ate dog and hated white people. 
Griffith’s film was unfortunately just the beginning of the portrayal of negative stereotypes in film. Movies function to instill such stereotypes in our culture. How else would the absurd notion that the size of someone’s head indicated Jewish descent and encourage the hatred towards the Jews if it weren’t for the Nazi propaganda films? Is there a way we can discuss stereotypes without being stereotypical? 
       This is a difficult issue to tackle. While not all stereotypes are particularly negative in nature, they are and will remain a part of society.