Smoke Signals Essay
The characters in the film, Smoke Signals, especially Victor, accepts the "red man" stereotype but are not fully compliant to them. They embrace what it means to be a Native American, the long hair, storytelling, warrior like facade, but still are able to become an individual on their own with the help of balancing Native American history with the modern day American. The years of prejudice empowers them to become a whole social statement of their own, when Thomas openly tells great stories or Victor cutting his hair because of his father's death or when they chant song on the bus, they are finding meaning.
Early on in the movie, you see a couple cultural traditions inside the reservations along with the common day Native American stereotypes. There is the seemingly non-stop drinking and partying, the long haired men and women, and the infamous storytelling. All around the movie Thomas tells stories, whether they be truth or lie, like there is an audience around a campfire with the thumping of drums in the background, just like Native Americans long ago. The scene with Victor, Thomas, and the "cowboys" (white men) on the bus, Victor tells Thomas to embrace more of the intimidating side of the Native American rather than the whimsical side. The characters know what all that being Native American entails and what it is to be one, but you see through Victor that he does not succumb to the "dancing with wolves" stereotype or the prideful confidence of his culture. Then with Thomas you see he is not at all warrior or brave, although he does feel proud of his ancestry. Even with Suzy Song she shows how she is not your stereotypical Native American, from being born on non reservation New York to becoming a hospital administrator with independence, she still holds onto her spiritual bond as a Native American, as do all the characters.
The saying of "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is exhibited in Native Americans and their historical disadvantages. In Smoke Signals, Thomas acknowledges the disadvantage in the bus scene where the white men wouldn't give up their seat, he says "cowboys always win". Victor and Thomas, although, are not stumped by it, they joke along for the rest of the bus ride making fun of John Wayne's teeth. Neither stumped are the hippies with the car that only drives backwards, they make a whole social statement of being an American standard hippy instead of the stereotypical Native American woman. Thomas makes a statement with his hair in braids, wearing a suit. The Native American statements they make are by Arnold and Victor cutting their hair in time of grief, Thomas again with his storytelling, or Thomas and Victor loudly chant/singing "John Wayne's Teeth". Through all these social statements and embracing their Native American, the characters become their own person.
Native Americans, many intimidated by the phrase "vanishing race", carry there culture and history through today and blend it with modern day. According to history, past Native Americans, such as Chief Joseph, wanted to and prepared to embrace the European ways and live peacefully with them, but was alienated by the Europeans and brought war instead of peace. Smoke Signals exemplifies its' Native Americans realistically, with the social struggles of fitting in, the restrictions of reservations, and the cultural tradition they still have.
Early on in the movie, you see a couple cultural traditions inside the reservations along with the common day Native American stereotypes. There is the seemingly non-stop drinking and partying, the long haired men and women, and the infamous storytelling. All around the movie Thomas tells stories, whether they be truth or lie, like there is an audience around a campfire with the thumping of drums in the background, just like Native Americans long ago. The scene with Victor, Thomas, and the "cowboys" (white men) on the bus, Victor tells Thomas to embrace more of the intimidating side of the Native American rather than the whimsical side. The characters know what all that being Native American entails and what it is to be one, but you see through Victor that he does not succumb to the "dancing with wolves" stereotype or the prideful confidence of his culture. Then with Thomas you see he is not at all warrior or brave, although he does feel proud of his ancestry. Even with Suzy Song she shows how she is not your stereotypical Native American, from being born on non reservation New York to becoming a hospital administrator with independence, she still holds onto her spiritual bond as a Native American, as do all the characters.
The saying of "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is exhibited in Native Americans and their historical disadvantages. In Smoke Signals, Thomas acknowledges the disadvantage in the bus scene where the white men wouldn't give up their seat, he says "cowboys always win". Victor and Thomas, although, are not stumped by it, they joke along for the rest of the bus ride making fun of John Wayne's teeth. Neither stumped are the hippies with the car that only drives backwards, they make a whole social statement of being an American standard hippy instead of the stereotypical Native American woman. Thomas makes a statement with his hair in braids, wearing a suit. The Native American statements they make are by Arnold and Victor cutting their hair in time of grief, Thomas again with his storytelling, or Thomas and Victor loudly chant/singing "John Wayne's Teeth". Through all these social statements and embracing their Native American, the characters become their own person.
Native Americans, many intimidated by the phrase "vanishing race", carry there culture and history through today and blend it with modern day. According to history, past Native Americans, such as Chief Joseph, wanted to and prepared to embrace the European ways and live peacefully with them, but was alienated by the Europeans and brought war instead of peace. Smoke Signals exemplifies its' Native Americans realistically, with the social struggles of fitting in, the restrictions of reservations, and the cultural tradition they still have.
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