Is Thomas crazy? With Victor being the protagonist that explains about Thomas behaviors, it may seem a reflection of this judgement shows otherwise. In the story “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”, written by Sherman Alexie, Victor stands in the perspective of the modern generation, which helps people to relate to these characters. On the other hand, the antagonist, Thomas Builds-the-Fire, is demonstrated as an outcast, yet he resonate the history of Indian tradition and culture. What people consider as crazy when they sees a Thomas speaking to himself is: What is he saying? Alexie’s story mostly resonate irony for the Indian community and the modern society with stories that defy traditions. As my classmate, Ngan Phan, wrote …show more content…
In Indian traditions during the Colonial Period, storytelling is often associated with sitting around a campfire in the woods. It can also be interpreted as the story that will ignite or make people aware of Native Indians and Americans history. With the lack of recorded events with the use of traditional oral storytelling, such as passing down stories from generations to generations, the Native Indians has a sparse share within the history of America. The generation has changed along with its people; therefore, this type of practice soon dissipate along with the beholder of those …show more content…
He does closes his eyes to tells the stories like reading a book, for he is seeking his answers from the past to compare the modern society. When Victor is drunk, he beats Thomas up for no specific reason. If Victor represents the people, and Thomas stands for the traditions, it shows how people can argue that the Indian might had not fought the war for their own independence. The answers lie on the people who are willing to listen. As Alexie writes, “Thomas Builds-the-Fire told his stories to all those who would stop and listen. He kept telling them long after people had stopped listening” (Alexie 511). Nothing has changed throughout history until someone wanted to acknowledge the past. Otherwise, it will repeats itself. After Victor and Thomas came back from Arizona, he says, “It was the beginning of a new day on earth, but the same old shit on the reservation” (511). Nothing has
The American Indian Wilderness is a story by Louis Owens that tells of two different viewpoints that a man has and how his viewpoint changed from one to the other. The first viewpoint is that nature and civilization are separate and should stay so. The second viewpoint is that nature and civilization are connected in many ways. The author, a park ranger with the United States Forest Service, is tasked with the removal of an eighty year old shelter high in the White Pass Meadow which is located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. The shelter removal is the key point of the story, as it is a turning point in the viewpoint of the author.
This caused many conflicts, but in the end, it reflected who Tom was as a person. Beginning Thomas’s training in school, he did not enjoy it at all. The new Ute ways made him feel like a replica of an Indian. He tried running away multiple times, but his guardians would always somehow catch him, till one day where he had finally escaped.
The novel "Lost in Space" by Drew Hayden Taylor shows the difficulty of adapting to modern life while struggling to maintain traditional cultural values. Through the protagonist's journey, readers gain insight into the challenges faced by Indigenous people in preserving their cultural traditions while existing in a world where they cannot fully practice their traditional culture. Additionally, the documentary "Reel Indian" highlights the importance of storytelling as a means of cultural transmission and preservation. By revealing the significance of Indigenous texts in maintaining cultural continuity, these texts grow understanding, appreciation, and social
“Sherman Alexie is a preeminent Native American poet, novelist, performer and filmmaker. He has garnered high praise for his poems and short stories of contemporary Native American reservation life, among them The Business of Fancydancing (1992), The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven (1993),” (“Sherman Alexie”). In “This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona,” Alexie specifically uses the plot structure to emphasize the storyline and thoroughly applies The Hero’s Journey analysis strategy model to dictate Victor and Thomas’ journey to retrieve Victor’s dad’s belongings. In the beginning, Alexie conforms the plot by opening with the introduction of the characters and their objective(s) to the point of which the hero and mentor reach the sought-after location.
Thomas is fearless and brave. He has the courage to reach for any dream he dreams, he is very spiritual and trusts in his visions to lead him on his path in life. He always has a story to tell and says that stories can change the world, which is all he has to cling
Despite a journey fueled by grief a friendship can be reborn with a new start for both parties. This is exemplified in “This Is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona” by Sherman Alexie when Victors father dies and he must travel to Phoenix, Arizona to retrieve his father’s personal belongings but he has financial trouble. He is able to scavenge $100 from the Tribal Council but it isn't enough to get to Phoenix, Arizona and back. When his strange old childhood friend, Thomas finds out about his father’s death he asks to tag along in exchange for the rest of the money Victor needs. Although the characterization in "This Is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona" by Sherman Alexie is exhibiting Victor as underprivileged throughout the story,
The Importance of Storytelling in Cherokee Culture The Cherokee people, like all Native American tribes, possess an extensive, ancient oral history. Before European contact and the creation of the Cherokee syllabary, the only way the Cherokees could pass on the legends within their history was by word of mouth or in other words through storytelling. Their stories included justifications for the origin of Earth and mankind, good human morals and values, and Cherokee culture rituals. Diane Glancy, author of Pushing The Bear, does a great job in conveying the importance of storytelling in Cherokee culture.
Despite the negative stereotype of American Indians, the objections and disapproval of fellow Natives, and the criticism of others, Sherman Alexie went on to become a successful writer that has inspired many. Alexie overcame many obstacles that would have deterred him from his goal, but he was able to remain steadfast and continue on in his pursuit of writing. As a result, he has published many literary works that include several short stories, poems, and a variety of novels. He allows his culture to seep into his writing, and continues to inspire young American Indians who also desire the path of knowledge.
Native American Trickster tales are told to children of the tribes orally and have morals and lessons within the tales to help teach its listeners how to behave and right from
When a story is written, the content lasts longer and can be revisited, however each reader perceives the meaning of the story and the details through their own experience. Stories began through oral tradition. Indigenous people have told stories throughout their histories, and those stories reveal their past, as well as their current realities and identities. An example of a storyteller who integrates multiple genres of storytelling in every aspect of her being, is Joy Harjo. Harjo is a multi-genre artist, musician, writer, poet, and overall inspirational storyteller.
In Thomas King 's autobiographical novel, The Truth About Stories takes a narrative approach in telling the story of the Native American, as well as Thomas King 's. The stories within the book root from the obstacles that the Thomas King had to face during his years in high school and his post-university life. These stories are told in a matter that uses rhetorical devices such as personal anecdotes & comparisons. "You 'll Never Believe What Happened" Is Always a Great Way to Start is about the importance, potential, and dangers of stories, specifically those of creation stories and how they can shape a culture, with the aim to share King 's urgency for social change with his readers King 's informal tone, lighthearted jokes, and effort to make his writing follow the style of native oral tradition as closely as possible, all help the reader understand the type of narrative he believes would be most beneficial for the foundation of a society. His unique style allows for the use of personal anecdotes and requires that he breaks the proverbial fourth wall to communicate with the reader directly, to create the conversational feel of the oral tradition.
Leroy Little Bear and Johnson would have similar responses to the harmful impacts of alcohol consumption if they were to sit down and have a discussion. The idea of how (1) knowledge is passed through story telling and (2) the impact of a jagged world view are the main concepts that both authors share. Knowledge is constantly changing and so our epistemological and ontological views change as well. Stories are very important to Indigenous culture it is the primary method of learning. Colonialism has left Indigenous people with a jagged worldview, which is why many of our Indigenous peoples find themselves involved with alcohol.
But between those things, there are flashbacks to when Victor and Thomas were Kids and Victor 's father had left. Thomas came up to Victor and said did your dad leave because he hates you and Victor beats up Thomas because Thomas was Provoking him and Victors Mother had to get Victor off Thomas. This Part of the movie shows That Victor and Thomas had the falling out and weren’t friends. Then, theirs was the bus scene where Victor was telling Thomas that he should stop wearing the suit and that Indians have like mean face and he should make that face and let his hair flow since that’s how a typical Indian wears their hair. When they got off the next stop Thomas went change into a cooler outfit and let his hair flow out.
Sherman Alexie writes the story “Indian Education” using a deadpan tone to build and connect the years of the narrator 's life together in an ironic way. Alexie is able to utilize irony through the use of separate, short sections within the story. The rapid presentation of events, simple thoughts, and poetic points made within the story enable the reader to make quick connections about the narrator’s life to draw more complex realizations. The art that Alexie uses to write this very short story is poetic in nature through the meaning and structure of his writing. By the fact that the reader can draw deeper conclusions about the narrator 's life from Alexie’s writing is evident that his writing is poetic.
Wilderness as a settler-colonial construct that embodies prejudice--racism and sexism--and that continues to shape and engrave settler-colonial ideologies in our society’s mindset, it should be questioned as to how it has been so powerful a cultural enterprise. Stories are what empower cultural persistence and cultural identity. In particular, the United States has implemented the use of story to shape and construct its cultural ideologies and to marginalize and disempower women and Indigenous people so that white men can assume a position of supremacy. Within these stories, the heroes are often depicted as innocent--similar to anti-conquest in which the colonizer naturalizes his own presence while establishing his power over native peoples