What You Pawn I Will Redeem
February 2, 2007 1:55 PM Subscribe
Literaturefilter: Help me find poor reviews of Sherman Alexie's "What You Pawn I will Redeem".
Can you furnish with me links to any pages criticizing this story? Extra points for reviews that consider typecasting.
Can you furnish with me links to any pages criticizing this story? Extra points for reviews that consider typecasting.
That's a wonderful story. Why would anyone review it negatively? Because it portrays some homeless Indians as alcoholics? Oh, sorry. Wouldn't want reality to intrude upon a good story.
Seriously, it's one of his best works. I've discussed it with more than a few Native folks who agree. And I don't think I've met any Native person familiar with Alexie's work who thinks it traffics in stereotypes out of ignorance. It traffics in stereotypes as a critique of stereotypes. There is a long history of this in the indigenous/postcolonial literary tradition. Most Indians I know, in fact, traffic in "stereotypes" about themselves as a form of humor and as a political gesture. It's a staple of Indian humor and discourse (the use of the word "Indian" by Native folks is itself an example).
Some time, have a look at Keith Basso's lovely little study of Apache cartooning, *Portraits of the Whiteman.* Then re-read Alexie.
posted by fourcheesemac at 3:45 AM on February 3, 2007
Seriously, it's one of his best works. I've discussed it with more than a few Native folks who agree. And I don't think I've met any Native person familiar with Alexie's work who thinks it traffics in stereotypes out of ignorance. It traffics in stereotypes as a critique of stereotypes. There is a long history of this in the indigenous/postcolonial literary tradition. Most Indians I know, in fact, traffic in "stereotypes" about themselves as a form of humor and as a political gesture. It's a staple of Indian humor and discourse (the use of the word "Indian" by Native folks is itself an example).
Some time, have a look at Keith Basso's lovely little study of Apache cartooning, *Portraits of the Whiteman.* Then re-read Alexie.
posted by fourcheesemac at 3:45 AM on February 3, 2007
Seconding fourcheesemac in praise of Alexie. A friend who read nothing but Native American lit & history for a couple years, and who is very critical of certain books, thinks Alexie is awesome.
posted by salvia at 7:53 PM on February 5, 2007
posted by salvia at 7:53 PM on February 5, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by chudder at 5:09 PM on February 2, 2007