From the day when the first settlers landed on the American coast it had been reported back to their people in Europe what the Native population is like and how they create their cultural lives. Since that time, Native Americans have been externally conceptualized in various forms, as for example in form of the ‘noble savage’ or the ‘vicious savage’, and almost never as having a sense of humor (Gruber 142). Humor in connection with Native American characters has among other reasons been avoided by image makers for it would have allowed recipients to identify with such human characteristics (Gruber 7). This would have meant to invalidate a powerful colonial ‘casting mold’ for dehuminazing stereotypical images about Nativeness. This hegemonic tool proves to be the most enduring one of colonization by replacing guns and troops (Gruber 157) with occupied Non-Native minds. Filmic representation perpetuated these distorted ideas about Native Americans further by drawing on those widespread clichés and inventing new ones (Gruber 142; Mihelich 130), as for example the Native American ‘ecologist’ (Cornell 109) or the spiritual ‘shaman’ living in absolute piece with nature. Thus, till today Native Americans are confronted with the task of dealing with biased images of themselves which are externally imposed on them by the surrounding dominance of Non-Native societies and discourses.
In this paper I will discuss how Native filmmakers Chris Eyre and Sherman Alexie effectively use just this powerful genre of popular culture to tackle habituated representations of Native Americans and offer Native versions of Nativeness. In Smoke Signals (1998) they rework and transform existing stereotypes by creating a meta level on which the powerful mechanism of image making is exposed. This meta level can be established through the use of humor (Gruber 35).
I will fill a desideratum in this context by breaking the concept of ‘humor’ down into its single aspects and then applying those to humorous material in Smoke Signals whereby distilling various strategies, not only the means for survival, which are used to pursue the subversive aim. In a structural approach I will have a closer look at which aspects of humor are actually used and what kinds of strategies originate from them considering a mixed audience consisting of Native as well as Non-Native viewers.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Concepts of Humor
- Irony
- Dramatic Irony
- Parody
- Burlesque
- Intertextuality
- Analysis of Humor and Pursued Strategies in Smoke Signals (1998)
- Humor as a Spoon Full of Sugar
- Humor as Liminal Space
- Humor as Antiseptic Healer for Survival
- Humor as Testing Device for and Promoter of Native Identity
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines how the film Smoke Signals utilizes humor to challenge stereotypical representations of Native Americans. It aims to analyze the various strategies employed by the filmmakers to subvert these stereotypes and offer alternative, Native perspectives on Native identity. The analysis will focus on specific types of humor used in the film and their function within the narrative.
- The use of humor as a tool for deconstructing stereotypical representations of Native Americans.
- The different forms of humor employed in Smoke Signals (irony, dramatic irony, parody, burlesque, intertextuality).
- The role of humor in mediating cultural understanding and promoting Native identity.
- The subversive potential of humor in challenging dominant narratives.
- Humor as a means of survival and resistance for Native communities.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces the historical context of stereotypical representations of Native Americans in film and media. It discusses how these often dehumanizing portrayals have historically served colonial interests, preventing authentic portrayals of Native identity and experiences, including their sense of humor. The chapter sets the stage for analyzing Smoke Signals as a film that actively challenges these stereotypes, using humor as a key tool for achieving this goal. It highlights the existing scholarly work on Native American representation and the film's significance in this context, specifically focusing on the use of humor as a form of resistance and cultural expression.
Concepts of Humor: This chapter provides a theoretical framework for understanding the various types of humor employed in Smoke Signals. It defines and explains key concepts such as irony, dramatic irony, parody, burlesque, and intertextuality, providing examples of each. The discussion emphasizes how these forms of humor can be utilized to subtly subvert expectations and challenge ingrained biases, setting the stage for a detailed analysis of their use in the film. The chapter particularly focuses on the interactive nature of irony and how shared cultural understanding is crucial for its successful deployment and comprehension, highlighting its potential for mediating and educating viewers about Native perspectives.
Analysis of Humor and Pursued Strategies in Smoke Signals (1998): This section delves into the film itself, exploring how the different forms of humor discussed in the previous chapter are used to achieve specific narrative and thematic goals. Each sub-section within this chapter will examine a specific function of humor in the film. For example, "Humor as a Spoon Full of Sugar" might explore how humor is used to engage viewers and make complex cultural discussions more accessible. "Humor as Liminal Space" could analyze how humor creates a space for negotiation and understanding between different cultural perspectives. The chapter will systematically examine how the film uses humor to promote authentic Native identity, providing concrete examples from the film itself to support its analysis.
Keywords
Native American representation, humor, irony, dramatic irony, parody, burlesque, intertextuality, Smoke Signals, Chris Eyre, Sherman Alexie, stereotype subversion, cultural mediation, identity, resistance, survival.
Smoke Signals Film Analysis: Frequently Asked Questions
What is this document about?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of a scholarly paper analyzing the use of humor in the film Smoke Signals (1998) to challenge stereotypical representations of Native Americans. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What are the main objectives of the paper?
The paper aims to analyze how Smoke Signals utilizes humor to subvert stereotypical portrayals of Native Americans, focusing on the various humorous strategies employed and their narrative function. It explores humor's role in deconstructing stereotypes, mediating cultural understanding, promoting Native identity, and serving as a form of resistance and survival.
What types of humor are analyzed in the film?
The analysis examines several types of humor, including irony, dramatic irony, parody, burlesque, and intertextuality, exploring how these contribute to the film's overall message and impact.
How does the paper define and explain these types of humor?
The paper provides theoretical definitions and explanations of irony, dramatic irony, parody, burlesque, and intertextuality, illustrating each concept with examples. It emphasizes how these humorous techniques can subvert expectations and challenge ingrained biases.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis of Smoke Signals?
Key themes include the use of humor as a tool for deconstructing stereotypes, the different forms of humor employed in the film, humor's role in mediating cultural understanding and promoting Native identity, the subversive potential of humor, and humor as a means of survival and resistance.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured into an introduction, a chapter on concepts of humor, a chapter analyzing the humor in Smoke Signals (broken down into sub-sections focusing on specific functions of humor in the film), and a conclusion. Each chapter is summarized in the preview document.
What specific functions of humor in Smoke Signals are discussed?
The analysis explores humor's functions in engaging viewers, creating a space for cultural negotiation, promoting authentic Native identity, and offering commentary on the complexities of Native experiences.
What is the significance of the film Smoke Signals according to this document?
Smoke Signals is presented as a significant film that actively challenges stereotypical representations of Native Americans, using humor as a crucial tool for achieving authentic portrayal and promoting understanding.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
Keywords include Native American representation, humor (various types), Smoke Signals, Chris Eyre, Sherman Alexie, stereotype subversion, cultural mediation, identity, resistance, and survival.
What is the historical context provided in the introduction?
The introduction establishes the historical context of stereotypical representations of Native Americans in film and media, highlighting how these often dehumanizing portrayals have served colonial interests and prevented authentic representations of Native identity and experiences.
- Citar trabajo
- Annika Onken (Autor), 2010, Humor and Its Pursued Strategies in "Smoke Signals" (1998), Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/187863
