Ward Churchill of Native American Film

This was an interesting article. When I started reading about the different Indian films and the film industry, and when it mentioned how Indians always portray the same character in each film, I started to realize how I'm actually tired of watching western films, etc. It mentioned how the Indian always gives the white man something to shoot at, and I agree. I feel like it's the same in every piece we've read/watched. Since the film Smoke Signals was directed and written by an Indian (Sherman Alexie), it must be a better film. I know the article mentioned how critics did not like the film, but because it was written by an Indian it better in the sense that it from the viewpoint of an Indian rather than a white man. After all, most of these stories involve Indians, so wouldn't it make sense for an Indian to write it?

"This is What it Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona"

I liked this story. It was about an Indian man named Victor going to get his father's body who died in Arizona. He can't seem to get the funds for his trip, so he brings along his childhood friend Thomas. Thomas is a story teller, but nobody really talks to him on the reservations because they do not want to hear his same stories over and over again. What I noticed in this story was how there was much modernization on the reservation and how there was a loss of tradition. The story mentions cars and airplanes. Also, the reservation celebrates the Fourth of July. Also, one would think that Indians on the reservation would enjoy storytelling. It would seem like it is apart of Indian culture. However, in this story nobody wants to listen to the storyteller and completely ignores Thomas, the storyteller. Victor even mentions how there is a loss of community within the reservation.

Fleur

It was nice to read a story for a change. This story was narrated by a young girl named Pauline. She describes a woman at the beginning of the story named Fleur. Fleur was known for her beauty but also for drowning in the lake twice. When she drowned, the two men that saved her ended up dying. Many people believed she was married to the lake monster. One summer, Fleur goes to a town called Argus. Here, she plays cards with three men and a dog. Pauline's stepfather is one of the card players. In between working, Pauline watches the card games. One thing that I did not understand about the story was why Fleur left after playing a game? I know Lily followed her and was attacked by a pig, but what happened to Fleur? Shortly after, there was a tornado that destroyed everything. It took three days for the town to figure out that the three men who played cards where missing. They found them frozen to death near the table where they played cards. What this story trying to say how the men that get involved with Fleur always die?

Truganinny & Online Poems of Wendy Rose

“Truganinny” was sort of a sad poem. It was kind of eerie almost. It was about an Indian woman who was “the last one”. She was waiting to die or dying. She mentioned how she wanted to be taken away and compared it to nature and the earth.

I enjoyed reading For the White poets who would be Indian. I liked the use of words in this poem. For example, “to snap up the words fish-hooked from our tongues”. It gave me an interesting image for this poem and what it would be like to be an Indian.

Crime Against Humanity

This was an interesting article we had to read. Before English 102, I never really thought about the Indian names that our society uses, like names of sports teams, war paint, etc. Now, that I am learning more about Indian culture and after reading this article, I realize that it is not right. Just because this minority group is small, does not mean that it is okay to use these titles and such. I liked how this article related it to Jews, African Americans, and Hispanics. It showed how it's no different than relating these titles and depictions to these other larger ethnic groups. I am Jewish, so I can easily relate to what this article was talking about. I would find it offensive too. I do not see what's the difference is here. We should take into consideration all ethnic groups, and we should be respectful of their culture.

Note to a Culture Vulture

When I finished reading this, I thought it was sort of funny. It was almost like the writer, Louis, was afraid to complement the Native American writer. It was an interesting viewpoint to read. I enjoyed it.

Sherman Alexie, How to Write the Great American Indian Novel

This was very similar to "How to Play an Indian". It was literally making fun of Indians and there associations with the white man. I liked the final statement of this piece: "In the Great American Indian novel, when it is finally written, all of the white people will be Indians and all the Indians will be ghosts". I thought it was powerful. I think it meant that by the time the book is written there will be very few Indians left so they will be like "ghosts". Any other ideas?

The Cowboy

I liked this story even though I was confused at some parts. It wasn't like the other stories we've read. It was more about following the everyday life of man who worked on a farm for an old man and an old woman. I wonder why the old woman was so mean? Maybe it was because she used to be beautiful, but now she was not. After the old woman died, I figured the old man would be happy and feel freed, but to my surprise he didn't. I guess since his sister was his only family he felt lonely. Luckily, he and the handy man formed a close relationship over the years. Was there something more that these people did on their farm besides heard cattle? I was kind of confused here.

Brokeback Mountain

This was a really interesting story. It was obviously much different from the other western stories we've read, since these two cowboys were gay. One reason why it was interesting to me was because I think a gay cowboy is a subject and area in westerns that no author or director has ever gone. In fact, most of the stories we've read are about greed and money or about Indian tribes, but this story was actually about a romance between two cowboys.