The Preemptive Straw Man - A Critique of Sherman Alexie's 'Toughest Indian in the World'.

A Critique of Sherman Alexie's 'Toughest Indian in the World'.

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, British
Cover of the book The Preemptive Straw Man - A Critique of Sherman Alexie's 'Toughest Indian in the World'. by Michael Knabel, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Michael Knabel ISBN: 9783640651986
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: June 28, 2010
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Michael Knabel
ISBN: 9783640651986
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: June 28, 2010
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Literature Review from the year 2010 in the subject English - Discussion and Essays, , course: Fiction, language: English, abstract: Homosexuality is like suicide. In the literary sense, I mean. Think about it. If you are reading a novel or short story and the main character just happens to off himself without foreshadowing, reason, or resultant purpose then it can safely be assumed that what you are reading is not very good. This is the case with the short story 'Toughest Indian in the World,' except substitute homosexuality for suicide and you get the idea. Lisa Tatonetti claims that homosexuality is a useful literary tool for illustrating character development, and I could not agree more. I just happen to disagree with her argument that Sherman Alexie is any good at using that tool (specifically in his short story 'Toughest Indian in the World'). However, in contemporary analysis of the use of 'controversial' themes such as homosexuality, critics like Tatonetti and Julie Bolt - and Alexie himself - dare you to criticize the work. Bolt, and Alexie, assert that if you criticize it then you are a homophobe. I assert that the problem is not with the homosexuality, it is how it is used; poorly, cheaply, etc. So I will criticize, not because I am a homophobe, but because if I do not criticize, then I am fearfully endorsing awful literature. Tatonetti posits that homosexuality - amongst other 'queer' identities - have suffered in literature, especially Native American literature; '...critical investigations of this important body of literature are just now finding representation in scholarly forums on American Indian literature' (Tatonetti 35.2). Her brief analysis of recent queer Native American texts successfully illustrates how the 'Toughest Indian' might come to be championed by those who wish to find important and significant queer identities in Native American literature. She then posits that homosexual identities are good vehicles to explore character transformation, and to this I agree. She also concludes that Sherman Alexie's homosexuality constructs in 'Toughest Indian' are productive and successful ones; 'I argue that the narrator's queer relationship to the fighter is situated as an avenue of transformation' (Tatonetti 35.2) While I can endorse her initial positions, I cannot disagree more with her conclusion. Her intention with this last quote is to argue that the homosexuality in 'Toughest Indian' was used productively, however her reasons she offers in support of this claim mainly are derivatives of her first quote decrying the lack of queer identities.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Literature Review from the year 2010 in the subject English - Discussion and Essays, , course: Fiction, language: English, abstract: Homosexuality is like suicide. In the literary sense, I mean. Think about it. If you are reading a novel or short story and the main character just happens to off himself without foreshadowing, reason, or resultant purpose then it can safely be assumed that what you are reading is not very good. This is the case with the short story 'Toughest Indian in the World,' except substitute homosexuality for suicide and you get the idea. Lisa Tatonetti claims that homosexuality is a useful literary tool for illustrating character development, and I could not agree more. I just happen to disagree with her argument that Sherman Alexie is any good at using that tool (specifically in his short story 'Toughest Indian in the World'). However, in contemporary analysis of the use of 'controversial' themes such as homosexuality, critics like Tatonetti and Julie Bolt - and Alexie himself - dare you to criticize the work. Bolt, and Alexie, assert that if you criticize it then you are a homophobe. I assert that the problem is not with the homosexuality, it is how it is used; poorly, cheaply, etc. So I will criticize, not because I am a homophobe, but because if I do not criticize, then I am fearfully endorsing awful literature. Tatonetti posits that homosexuality - amongst other 'queer' identities - have suffered in literature, especially Native American literature; '...critical investigations of this important body of literature are just now finding representation in scholarly forums on American Indian literature' (Tatonetti 35.2). Her brief analysis of recent queer Native American texts successfully illustrates how the 'Toughest Indian' might come to be championed by those who wish to find important and significant queer identities in Native American literature. She then posits that homosexual identities are good vehicles to explore character transformation, and to this I agree. She also concludes that Sherman Alexie's homosexuality constructs in 'Toughest Indian' are productive and successful ones; 'I argue that the narrator's queer relationship to the fighter is situated as an avenue of transformation' (Tatonetti 35.2) While I can endorse her initial positions, I cannot disagree more with her conclusion. Her intention with this last quote is to argue that the homosexuality in 'Toughest Indian' was used productively, however her reasons she offers in support of this claim mainly are derivatives of her first quote decrying the lack of queer identities.

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book Frank Llyod Wright - The Prairie Houses by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book Gangster mythology in Howard Hawks' 'Scarface - Shame of the nation' by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book From the Two - Headed Freak to a Whole Person by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book Metaphor - The Structure of the Domain 'Anger' by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book How was the behavior of the US in Foreign Policy from 1917 till the end of the Vietnam War and what are the different possibilities? by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book An Analysis of Ryanair's Corporate Strategy by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book The North-South Divide in England by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book De- and Reconstructing Leadership by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book Different Readings of Sir Thomas More's Utopia - from an Ideal state to the First Dystopia by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book The Aspect of Ignorance in Golding's Lord of the Flies by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book T.C. Boyle's 'The Tortilla Curtain' by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book How to motivate Students to learn English by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book Patentability of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book The Arch of Constantine by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book Cooperation among strangers with limited information about reputation by Michael Knabel
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy