Frank Ross asked Alexie about the political nature of his writing, quoting him as saying he does not like to beat readers over the head with it. Alexie replied: “I like to make them laugh first, then beat them over the head . . . when they are defenseless.” Describe some examples from the stories that demonstrate this tactic. Choose one example to focus on and explain how the humor and political point work together as in the above quote.
I thought that the story "Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock," is a good representation of Alexie's response, "I like to make them laugh first, then beat them over the head...when they are defenseless." I believe this because the story is about a boy named Victor who's father is a big music fan, who takes his obsession for music too far, pushing his family away. Through out the story, we see how much Victor's father uses music and alcohol to escape his problems with his wife, and to try to remain in the moment that he experienced at Woodstock. I feel Alexie does this to show the humor in this families destruction. He talks about how the father would react, and the boy falling asleep at his dads shoes. Although, this is not necessarily a funny situation, he uses the music to lighten the mood.
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Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Application 1/ summary
In Glory Bird’s article on the novel “Ceremony,” I have found that her main focus was her search for decolonization, through the works of "Ceremony." Bird demonstrates many occurrences that represent the colonization of her people. She explains instances where Native peoples were forced to mold themselves and their lifestyles to fit that of the dominate race. This has greatly altered their way of life. She then touches on the importance of language, and how her mother, as well as Tayo’s Auntie chose to estrange them from their Native Tongue. In this act of colonization, Bird feels the people are endanger of internal oppression and that they will suffer from a negative impact on their psyche. She even mentions Christianity and how it has had a huge influence in the act of colonization. Christianity is one way that Auntie alienates herself from her family, and her cultural beliefs. Bird uses these examples of the impacts of colonization of her people to show the whites how they have selfishly altered the Native culture. She writes this article through Native eyes, just like Silko does in “Ceremony.” This is a step for her to decolonize her culture, which is why she teaches “Ceremony.” She beliefs this novel is the best demonstration of decolonization. Her article is told to have affects on not just the whites, but to hope the Native eyes as well to their colonized ways. She wants both sides to see the result of the colonized world. This is apparent in Tayo’s encounter with Night Swan, and Betonie. They are mixed blood like Tayo, and they give him the courage to embrace his culture and to learn to reject the colonized ways. Tayo’s quest for peace of mind is what leads him to his ceremony, resulting in his decolonization.
Bird demonstrates many prime examples of decolonization in “Ceremony” However; I feel she left out a key factor to this quest of decolonization. This would be the gender roles that are demonstrated throughout “Ceremony.” Gender is important in decolonization because it is a role that signifies certain responsibilities and roles that Native peoples carry out. In a colonized world the woman is still considered to be the weaker of the two genders. This is not the case in Native cultures, or is it the case in “Ceremony.” Native women are considered wiser, and they take on more responsibilities then the men. They are the ones who decided whom the children are going to date or marry, where in a colonized world this would be more likely the father’s role. In “Ceremony,” we can see many different instances where the woman plays the stronger gender. Auntie who seems to be the head of her house hold, has a great impact on Tayo, and he listens every word she says, even if everyone else doesn’t. Although Auntie is not the greatest example of feminine strength, she still had more control over Tayo’s home than any other character. I found that Night Swan was the most emotionally strong character of the book. She used her beauty to control men, showing men’s weakness. This is not a colonized belief. Women are meant to have little to no control over men. However, Night Swan doesn’t just use her beauty to sway Josiah, but she does this to Tayo too, proving that no matter her age, she still has a charm that none of the male characters possess. She even get’s Tayo to mention his issues with his mother which he’s never spoke of. She then gives Tayo advice that helps him on his road to recovery. She is a very influential character, because of her strength and likeable personality. Even the secondary female characters where perceived as strong, such as Ts’eh and Helen Jean. Helen Jean also uses men to survive, but she remains in control of this situation. She doesn’t let the men control her. This is also not a common thing to seen in colonization, because most woman are not in control, and are beaten or raped in cases like that. Ts’eh, is a strong character in many ways. She unlike Tayo, isn’t afraid of the cattle. When we are first introduced to her she is wearing a man’s shirt. She knows how to manage the cattle, and plant crops. She has both feminine qualities and masculine. She also has Tayo’s heart, showing once again the women’s control.
The men in “Ceremony” seem to all be suffering from emotional or mental problems. Tayo loses control in the bar and almost kills Emo. Emo beats and tortures Harley, cutting off parts of his body to try to get Tayo to come out from hiding. Josiah, who has a secret love affair with the Night Swan, can’t seem to be open with it. Ku’oosh is a medicine man who can’t even help Tayo with his problems. Betonie who is often intimidating to people and scares them. All these characters show signs of emotional problems that they all find hard to conquer. This is why I feel that gender is important in the process of decolonization, because it is one of the aspects that make the Native cultural different from the white cultural. Gender is a part of decolonization of Natives and whites.
Bird demonstrates many prime examples of decolonization in “Ceremony” However; I feel she left out a key factor to this quest of decolonization. This would be the gender roles that are demonstrated throughout “Ceremony.” Gender is important in decolonization because it is a role that signifies certain responsibilities and roles that Native peoples carry out. In a colonized world the woman is still considered to be the weaker of the two genders. This is not the case in Native cultures, or is it the case in “Ceremony.” Native women are considered wiser, and they take on more responsibilities then the men. They are the ones who decided whom the children are going to date or marry, where in a colonized world this would be more likely the father’s role. In “Ceremony,” we can see many different instances where the woman plays the stronger gender. Auntie who seems to be the head of her house hold, has a great impact on Tayo, and he listens every word she says, even if everyone else doesn’t. Although Auntie is not the greatest example of feminine strength, she still had more control over Tayo’s home than any other character. I found that Night Swan was the most emotionally strong character of the book. She used her beauty to control men, showing men’s weakness. This is not a colonized belief. Women are meant to have little to no control over men. However, Night Swan doesn’t just use her beauty to sway Josiah, but she does this to Tayo too, proving that no matter her age, she still has a charm that none of the male characters possess. She even get’s Tayo to mention his issues with his mother which he’s never spoke of. She then gives Tayo advice that helps him on his road to recovery. She is a very influential character, because of her strength and likeable personality. Even the secondary female characters where perceived as strong, such as Ts’eh and Helen Jean. Helen Jean also uses men to survive, but she remains in control of this situation. She doesn’t let the men control her. This is also not a common thing to seen in colonization, because most woman are not in control, and are beaten or raped in cases like that. Ts’eh, is a strong character in many ways. She unlike Tayo, isn’t afraid of the cattle. When we are first introduced to her she is wearing a man’s shirt. She knows how to manage the cattle, and plant crops. She has both feminine qualities and masculine. She also has Tayo’s heart, showing once again the women’s control.
The men in “Ceremony” seem to all be suffering from emotional or mental problems. Tayo loses control in the bar and almost kills Emo. Emo beats and tortures Harley, cutting off parts of his body to try to get Tayo to come out from hiding. Josiah, who has a secret love affair with the Night Swan, can’t seem to be open with it. Ku’oosh is a medicine man who can’t even help Tayo with his problems. Betonie who is often intimidating to people and scares them. All these characters show signs of emotional problems that they all find hard to conquer. This is why I feel that gender is important in the process of decolonization, because it is one of the aspects that make the Native cultural different from the white cultural. Gender is a part of decolonization of Natives and whites.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Gloria Bird's, Towards a Decolonization of the Mind and Text 1
In Gloria Bird's summary of Silko's "Ceremony," I have found that her main focus was her search for decolonization, through the works of "Ceremony." She touches on language and the importance it has on the road to decolonization. She touches on her struggle with her lack of cultural understanding of her own language. She talks about her experiences with her mother who is bilingual and how she never felt like she was truly apart of her culture, because she was kept out of the conversations. She relates her personal experiences with Tayo's. She mentions his relationship with the elders, and how he too was kept out of conversation due to his lack understanding of the language. She seems to be able to relate to the book in many different instances, not just language differences. Like Tayo, Bird seems to use the book as a form of "Ceremony." She talks about how no other books depicts her struggle with decolonization, as well as "Ceremony" does. She even mentions Christianity and how it had greatly impacted the Indians, and their way of life. She feels this is one thing that colonized the Indian culture, because their beliefs were entirely different then those of the Christian beliefs. I feel that Bird covered a lot of val led points, in her paper, when discussing the importance of language, and colonization.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Ceremony, 3 Questions (pgs 58-142)
We are also introduced to Josiah’s Mexican lover, the Flamenco dancer, Night Swan. What do we find out about her? What significance attaches to her character? What’s with all the blue? How does what she tells Tayo connect with elements that come up in other parts of the novel?
Night Swan is an extravagantly beautiful woman, who appears ageless, because "she was like the rain and the wind; age had no relation to her." We find out that she is a promiscuous woman, who not only sleeps with Tayo, but his uncle as well. She is a dancer, who uses her beauty and dancing to draw men in. What I found to be interesting about her character was that she seems to represent Tayo's mother. She's obviously quite fond of men no matter what ethniticity. Tayo's mother was also like this. Tayo even finds himself opening up to her, when he's never done this with anyone else. She seems to be a free spirit, who doesn't care about others opinions, which was also the same characteristics of his mother. He finds comfort in Night Swan, because she is not only a motherly figure, who now dances only for her grandchildren, but she supplies him with understanding. She tells him that "people are afraid of change, they think that if their children have the same color of skin, the same color of eyes, that nothing is changing." This is comforting to Tayo, because it gives him a sense of understanding of who he is, and that he is not at fault for being of mixed blood. She then says, "they are fools, they blame us the ones who look different. That way they don't have to think about what has happened inside themselves." I think this exactly what Tayo needed to hear, because he blames so much him being "different," which is causing him to be sick. This also shows that Night Swan can relate to him, when she says, "us" when refering to "the ones who look different."
We read a flashback to Tayo's early years (0-4) with his mother in Gallup, then we meet Betonie, the mixed breed medicine man, who lives in the Indian area of Gallup. Discuss what we readers should take note of in the presentation of Betonie, his hogan, his views, and his collections.
I think that Betonie is a very crucial character in Tayo's search for a "cure." Although he scares Tayo at times, Tayo feels that he must listened to Betonie, and do what he says. Tayo actually talks to someone about his feelings towards his uncle and Rocky. This is obviously important in Tayo's recovery. Betonie shows him that it is not his fault for what happened to his family. He gives him reasoning, and tells him old stories, that show that "accidents happen." This is where the story of the boy and the bears is told. This view of Betonie, is important in showing Tayo that things happen, they are not always black and white or good and bad, but they always balance one another out. I found this to be very true, and a good lesson to be taught. Betonie doesn't seem like a typical medicine man, his hogan is very dirty, and full of old things. Tayo even calls him out for it, but Betonie knows how others view him, and still remains confident in his teachings.
The long story.poem, p. 122-128, is of how "witchery" created whites and the onslaught of Europeans and all the destruction they brought. Gloss this poem to identify how the story represents Europeans and their relationship with the world. Consider also: what is the point of Betonie emphasizing the American Indian role in the destruction? What IS his point? Why does he think it is important for Tayo to think about it in this way?
This poem was very interesting to me. In the poem the "white people" are conjuered up by witches, who are having a "contest in dark things." They are discribed as seeing no life in any form of mother nature. They are fearful creatures, who will kill out of fear. They are "objects to work for us (meaning the withces) to destroy, to kill, for suffering, for torment, for the still born, for the deformed, the sterile, the dead." These things are all very disturbing things, that are not entirely true, but sadly true enough. We do kill out of fear, we do distroy, and so on. Over time we have lost a sense of humanity, with the need for new technology. We live a life of "material." So this poem is a good way of showing us what we are really like, and what we have become. I feel that Betonie emphasizes the American Indian role to show that we are all to blame for the way all human beings live their lives. It's not just the "white man," it's all of us. This is is point, that each race, plays it's own part in the destruction of humanity. He wants Teyo to see this so that he can forget his hatred of the "white man" in the destruction of his family, and focus on ways he can better himself.
Night Swan is an extravagantly beautiful woman, who appears ageless, because "she was like the rain and the wind; age had no relation to her." We find out that she is a promiscuous woman, who not only sleeps with Tayo, but his uncle as well. She is a dancer, who uses her beauty and dancing to draw men in. What I found to be interesting about her character was that she seems to represent Tayo's mother. She's obviously quite fond of men no matter what ethniticity. Tayo's mother was also like this. Tayo even finds himself opening up to her, when he's never done this with anyone else. She seems to be a free spirit, who doesn't care about others opinions, which was also the same characteristics of his mother. He finds comfort in Night Swan, because she is not only a motherly figure, who now dances only for her grandchildren, but she supplies him with understanding. She tells him that "people are afraid of change, they think that if their children have the same color of skin, the same color of eyes, that nothing is changing." This is comforting to Tayo, because it gives him a sense of understanding of who he is, and that he is not at fault for being of mixed blood. She then says, "they are fools, they blame us the ones who look different. That way they don't have to think about what has happened inside themselves." I think this exactly what Tayo needed to hear, because he blames so much him being "different," which is causing him to be sick. This also shows that Night Swan can relate to him, when she says, "us" when refering to "the ones who look different."
We read a flashback to Tayo's early years (0-4) with his mother in Gallup, then we meet Betonie, the mixed breed medicine man, who lives in the Indian area of Gallup. Discuss what we readers should take note of in the presentation of Betonie, his hogan, his views, and his collections.
I think that Betonie is a very crucial character in Tayo's search for a "cure." Although he scares Tayo at times, Tayo feels that he must listened to Betonie, and do what he says. Tayo actually talks to someone about his feelings towards his uncle and Rocky. This is obviously important in Tayo's recovery. Betonie shows him that it is not his fault for what happened to his family. He gives him reasoning, and tells him old stories, that show that "accidents happen." This is where the story of the boy and the bears is told. This view of Betonie, is important in showing Tayo that things happen, they are not always black and white or good and bad, but they always balance one another out. I found this to be very true, and a good lesson to be taught. Betonie doesn't seem like a typical medicine man, his hogan is very dirty, and full of old things. Tayo even calls him out for it, but Betonie knows how others view him, and still remains confident in his teachings.
The long story.poem, p. 122-128, is of how "witchery" created whites and the onslaught of Europeans and all the destruction they brought. Gloss this poem to identify how the story represents Europeans and their relationship with the world. Consider also: what is the point of Betonie emphasizing the American Indian role in the destruction? What IS his point? Why does he think it is important for Tayo to think about it in this way?
This poem was very interesting to me. In the poem the "white people" are conjuered up by witches, who are having a "contest in dark things." They are discribed as seeing no life in any form of mother nature. They are fearful creatures, who will kill out of fear. They are "objects to work for us (meaning the withces) to destroy, to kill, for suffering, for torment, for the still born, for the deformed, the sterile, the dead." These things are all very disturbing things, that are not entirely true, but sadly true enough. We do kill out of fear, we do distroy, and so on. Over time we have lost a sense of humanity, with the need for new technology. We live a life of "material." So this poem is a good way of showing us what we are really like, and what we have become. I feel that Betonie emphasizes the American Indian role to show that we are all to blame for the way all human beings live their lives. It's not just the "white man," it's all of us. This is is point, that each race, plays it's own part in the destruction of humanity. He wants Teyo to see this so that he can forget his hatred of the "white man" in the destruction of his family, and focus on ways he can better himself.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Ceremony (1-58)
Given what you have read so far (esp. the Pueblo stories, the Hopi film, and Silko essays), what connections can you draw between the first few pages (the poems) of Ceremony and these materials?
The poems in the book are a lot like the stories we read as well as the film. All of these have captured the importance of story telling, and the lessons that go with it. The first poem talks about the sisters, Nau'ts'ity'i and I'tcts'ity'i, and their involvement with the creation of the earth. This story was also in the Pueblo stories. As well as the mother spider, which was talked about frequently in the film. Throughout the pages (1-58) of "Ceremony" there are many different stories that suggest the importance of these stories. Like when Tayo, prays the rain away, he feels responsible for the drought, which shows how deeply he believes in these traditions.
Carefully re-read the pages that involve the old medicine man, Ku’oosh, p. 31-34. Explain the significance of how Ku’oosh speaks, chooses words, and of his point about the fragility of the world.
He speaks to Tayo like softly to show him that he can get over this "sickness." That he must do this if he wants to truly live. He's talks about the fragility of the world to make Tayo see that he is not at fault. Like when he states "the old man would have said that something close and terrible had killed these people. Not even oldtime witches killed like that." I believe Ku'oosh tells Tayo this to show him that what he done wasn't has bad as it seems. Even the poem talks of how "all these things they had to do."
The poems in the book are a lot like the stories we read as well as the film. All of these have captured the importance of story telling, and the lessons that go with it. The first poem talks about the sisters, Nau'ts'ity'i and I'tcts'ity'i, and their involvement with the creation of the earth. This story was also in the Pueblo stories. As well as the mother spider, which was talked about frequently in the film. Throughout the pages (1-58) of "Ceremony" there are many different stories that suggest the importance of these stories. Like when Tayo, prays the rain away, he feels responsible for the drought, which shows how deeply he believes in these traditions.
Carefully re-read the pages that involve the old medicine man, Ku’oosh, p. 31-34. Explain the significance of how Ku’oosh speaks, chooses words, and of his point about the fragility of the world.
He speaks to Tayo like softly to show him that he can get over this "sickness." That he must do this if he wants to truly live. He's talks about the fragility of the world to make Tayo see that he is not at fault. Like when he states "the old man would have said that something close and terrible had killed these people. Not even oldtime witches killed like that." I believe Ku'oosh tells Tayo this to show him that what he done wasn't has bad as it seems. Even the poem talks of how "all these things they had to do."
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
"She Had Some Horses"
At first, this poem seemed to be filled with contradiction, however after reading it over several times, I find that to be false. I read each line, and came to realize that she may have been battling with her own feelings, but she was never in the dark with what she truly felt. For example, I read the lines, she had some horses who laughed too much, and she had some horses who licked razor blades, and I thought they were contradicting at first. Then I looked closer and realized, that with laughing "too" much, this would be why she would then lick razor blades, it's kind of like biting your tongue. This is why "too much" is important, it shows that the laughter was too excessive and therefore, she would hold her tongue, or "lick razor blades." Other lines I thought were contradicting were, she had horses who thought they were the sun and their bodies shone and burned like stars, and the line she had horses who were much too shy, and kept quiet in shalls of their own making. I looked at these two lines and thought that the sun would not be shy, but looking at it again I see that the horses"thought" they were the sun and burned like stars, but it doesn't say they were the sun, this seems like something a shy person in a shall of their own making would dream of. They are becoming something "in their own making" why not it be a burning star?
I agree that the horses are neither male or female because these horses all represent, or have experienced things that both the male and female person would be, or go through. Either male or female could have cried in their beer, said they weren't afraid, thought that their high price had saved them. These are all things that both man and woman can experience.
There are a lot of truths to this poem. Everyone comes to a point where they've laughed too much, and felt like they needed to lick razor blades, for doing so. Everyone lies, has had to wait for destruction, and has gotten on their knees for any savior. (religious or not) All these things circle back to her last three lines, She had some horses she loved, she had some horses she hated, these were the same horses. We all have faults, and we all have good qualities, but no matter what we have or who we are these are what makes us who we are. Good or bad, in the end these are the same horses, because this is who you are.
I agree that the horses are neither male or female because these horses all represent, or have experienced things that both the male and female person would be, or go through. Either male or female could have cried in their beer, said they weren't afraid, thought that their high price had saved them. These are all things that both man and woman can experience.
There are a lot of truths to this poem. Everyone comes to a point where they've laughed too much, and felt like they needed to lick razor blades, for doing so. Everyone lies, has had to wait for destruction, and has gotten on their knees for any savior. (religious or not) All these things circle back to her last three lines, She had some horses she loved, she had some horses she hated, these were the same horses. We all have faults, and we all have good qualities, but no matter what we have or who we are these are what makes us who we are. Good or bad, in the end these are the same horses, because this is who you are.
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