Smoke Signals Essay
In Smoke Signals, Chris Eyre illustrates how Thomas and Victor are simultaneously burdened and empowered by their Native American roots. They are burdened by Christopher Columbus and his discovery of the New World which brought diseases to the Native Americans wiping out 90% of their population causing them to continuously defend themselves. In addition, Victor struggles with the stereotype of people thinking that all Native Americans are alcoholics. Although they are burdened tremendously by their Native American heritage, Thomas and Victor are able to feel empowered. Victor finds power and meaning through the history of Native American warriors while Thomas finds it through the Native American tradition of storytelling. He shares his stories and experience with others to show what it means to be a Native American to him. Through storytelling, Thomas is able to empower others to be true to themselves.
The movie Smoke Signals illustrates how Native Americans are burdened by their history and stereotypes. Thomas and Victor struggle to move past the burden of Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World. They are often found playing defense in order to protect and save their culture due to the diseases that wiped out almost 90% of the Native American population. Several characters are seen attempting to prove themselves as a result in order to show others that they do belong on this planet. These characters, specifically Victor, wrestle with stereotypes made by others. In one scene, Victor and Thomas get into a car crash with a drunk driver and the driver attempts to pin the crime on Victor because he is Native American and believes that all Native Americans are alcoholics. At the hospital the boys try to escape but eventually accept that they won't be able to change what others think about them. The police officer believes the drunk driver who blamed Victor for the crash but eventually moves past the stereotype and lets them go. The director, Chris Eyre, does a phenomenal job with this scene creating an atmosphere where the viewer actually believes that Victor and Thomas are in trouble. Although immensely burdened, the characters in Smoke Signals show that being Native American can also be empowering.
Eyre allows the viewers to see another side of being a Native American. Victor is able to find power and meaning through the history of Native American warriors even though they are fishermen. He is able to find a deeper meaning within his heritage which allows him to make peace with his blood. Victor recognizes that he is able to attain power through his history by acting like a warrior when he tells Thomas that Native Americans were also warriors. During their bud ride to Arizona, Victor is empowered by teaching Thomas how to act like a real Native American who doesn't get pushed around by others. He is able to connect and take pride in himself by acting stoic which allows him to build a wall between what others think about him and what he thinks about himself. In addition, Thomas is able to find power and meaning through the Native American tradition of storytelling. By sharing his stories, he is able to show others what it means to be Native American to him and through his stories, Thomas is able to empower other Native Americans to be true to themselves. At the end of the movie, Thomas asks Victor whether he is being truthful to himself causing Victor to take a step back and realize what he has put him and his mother through since his father abandoned them.
The opening scene of Smoke Signals, is of a burning house which Victor's father set on fire. As the audience witnessed the house engulfed in flames they heard Thomas say that some Native Americans were born with hands of flame and others of ash. He explains that those who were born with hands of flame always set fire to the things they touch and those with hands of ash fall apart at the slightest degradation. Thomas and Victor were born with hands of flame he says. These boys are burdened and empowered by this idea. They must learn to understand that everything they touch will not be destroyed but find power in discovering that their strong connection to their Native American heritage and what it means to them. Smoke Signals creates an image for the reader of what it really means to be Native American.
The movie Smoke Signals illustrates how Native Americans are burdened by their history and stereotypes. Thomas and Victor struggle to move past the burden of Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World. They are often found playing defense in order to protect and save their culture due to the diseases that wiped out almost 90% of the Native American population. Several characters are seen attempting to prove themselves as a result in order to show others that they do belong on this planet. These characters, specifically Victor, wrestle with stereotypes made by others. In one scene, Victor and Thomas get into a car crash with a drunk driver and the driver attempts to pin the crime on Victor because he is Native American and believes that all Native Americans are alcoholics. At the hospital the boys try to escape but eventually accept that they won't be able to change what others think about them. The police officer believes the drunk driver who blamed Victor for the crash but eventually moves past the stereotype and lets them go. The director, Chris Eyre, does a phenomenal job with this scene creating an atmosphere where the viewer actually believes that Victor and Thomas are in trouble. Although immensely burdened, the characters in Smoke Signals show that being Native American can also be empowering.
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| Thomas storytelling |
The opening scene of Smoke Signals, is of a burning house which Victor's father set on fire. As the audience witnessed the house engulfed in flames they heard Thomas say that some Native Americans were born with hands of flame and others of ash. He explains that those who were born with hands of flame always set fire to the things they touch and those with hands of ash fall apart at the slightest degradation. Thomas and Victor were born with hands of flame he says. These boys are burdened and empowered by this idea. They must learn to understand that everything they touch will not be destroyed but find power in discovering that their strong connection to their Native American heritage and what it means to them. Smoke Signals creates an image for the reader of what it really means to be Native American.
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