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 The divergences between maoism and classical marxist thought by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book Contingency theory by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book Die Finanzverfassung der Bundesrepublik Deutschland by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book Donor harmonisation, Ownership and Aid Effectiveness by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book Meditation As Mediation Through The Culture Of Truth by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book Programming and use of TMS320F2812 DSP to control and regulate power electronic converters by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book A Nobody Throughout the Ages by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book The Constituency Development Fund. Merits and Demerits to Community Development by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book Examination of the cultural effects of globalisation by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book 'A single currency for Europe is a good thing and the sooner the UK joins the Euro, the better.' Do you agree? by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book Japan: Health-, Elderly- and Child- Care in comparison to the German system: based on a case study by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book Rhetorica movet! by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book Outsourcing of Manufacturing Processes: Negotiating with a Single Sourcing Supplier by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book Mophology of the fairy tale. Disney's literary original 'The Princess and the Frog' analysed on the basis of Propp's 'Morphology of the folktale' by Michael Knabel
Cover of the book Regional Opportunities of the Fehmarn Belt Link 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