Category Archives: Smoke Signals

Smoke Signals

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Smoke Signals addresses society’s perception of the individual, dilution of culture, and subsequent stereotyping, as well as the reactionary response to such trivialization and pigeonholing. The typical perception of Native Americans differs from person to person, but the prevailing viewpoints are comprised of either spiritual, earth loving, peaceful people or alcoholic, stoic, depressed denizens. The film presents us at its very start with examples of these two stereotypes, the former channeled through Thomas Builds-the-Fire’s grandmother and the latter via Victor Joseph’s father, Arnold. The film counters these stereotypes with Victor Joseph and Thomas Builds-the-Fire themselves, as they are not one dimensional characters, but convey feelings of pride, introspection, and dissatisfaction with the world around them.

Though they may be multifaceted characters, it is stressed that we only know this because the viewer is granted insight into their lives and not simply a mere glance at them. Those they encounter, on the other hand, often cannot see past their long, flowing locks and their grim, determined faces, forsaking them as troubled and inferior. Thomas Builds-the-Fire begins the film as a cheerful, innocent face that acts as a foil to the bleak, hardened Victor Joseph. When the pair encounter a former Olympian who describes not being able to perform in the Olympics due to President Carter’s boycott of the games. Thomas Builds-the-Fire says to her “You gymnasts got a lot in common with us Indians”, which she halfheartedly agrees with, but Victor Joseph insults her by saying that her plight is in no way comparable to the trials and tribulations that his people had endured over the centuries. Moments later, the pair’s seats are taken by two cantankerous old coots who, when asked to move to different seats, respond with indifference and thinly veiled disgust at the small request. The pair then move to a different seat and discuss how they must dress in an abrasive manner, have their hair flow long and braidless as a testament to their Indian heritage, and appear stoic and agitated towards others in order to appear warrior like and aggressive. This mask must be put on to fool those around them into thinking that they are not mere people, but something more, something barbaric. Their culture and existence has been continuously trampled upon and usurped. What land they had was taken and, in a forced act of apology, given back to them in small, controlled areas. This can never be undone. Though Victor Joseph and Thomas Builds-the-Fire may be intelligent, thoughtful, caring beings, these qualities are never seen by those around them, they are only dumb drunks or hippies. This idea of stereotyping pervades American society and hurts all those affected by it because it is a dumbing down and simplifying of a wide array of ideals, cultural traditions, and behaviors into meaningless garbage, into a perverted caricature. It does not require much critical thinking to understand why a culture would respond with vehemence and disgust towards this ignorance; hate the sin and the sinner.

Smoke Signals

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In the movie Smoke Signals there is an obvious struggle with identity. Victor and Thomas represent two very different identities. Victor is an angry and confused youth, who uses his free flowing hair and angry demeanor to craft a stereotypical angry native american identity. On the other hand Thomas, who wears braids and is always smiling, crafts an identity that is more obviously his own. It is interesting to see the identity of two native americans, one who tries to follow the stereotypes put on his people and one who lives more for himself, accepting his people while still able to craft a unique individual identity that still accepts his native american heritage.

As the movie goes on many stereotypes of drunk and abusive native americans are supported by Arnold, however by the end of the movie his actions are better understood. Once Victor understands more about his father and why he acted the way he did his identity becomes more solid, and he loses much of the angst that drove him previously. While never letting go of their heritage the boys are still able to gain their own individual identities, allowing themselves to be both unique and also part of a larger identity, that of a native American. By the end of the movie both boys better understand themselves, and their identities.

Smoke Signals

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Smoke signals is a movie that deals with the topic of being a Native American within a white man’s world. The story focuses on the two main characters Victor and Thomas. The topic of identity is a central theme of the movie, as it deals with many of the old stereotypes that have been attributed to the Native American community for centuries. Drinking and violence run rampant through the Native American community throughout the story of Smoke Signals, and Thomas and Victor try to find their own identity .

The entire story is told with the use of spirits, in a revelation fashion, in which Victor and Thomas both learn truths about themselves, as they continue on a journey both physically and mentally searching to where they fit in. In once scene Victor proclaims that “Indians are not supposed to smile” he then goes on to say “If you arn’t serious people wont respect you”. The idea of stereotypes places heavy into the movie. As seen in the quote above, Victor understands and believes in the idea that Indians need to play into the idea that they need to be spiritual and quiet beings if anyone is to take them seriously as people.

By using certain conventions such as telling an entire story through spirits, or portraying Indians as drunks such seen within the character Arnold (Victors father) burning down an entire building because he was intoxicated, much of the myth and stereotype of Indian culture is laid out, making the task of combining the Victor and Thomas’s culture with their own unique identity not an easy task. The trip the Victor and Thomas embark on allows them to find themselves and mix their Indian culture with their own unique perspectives finding themselves. They take a tripe from Idaho to Arizona, and along the way they seem to bounce of each other and learn what is to be both a Native American, and a their own person.

Film Blog: Smoke Signals by Lucas Yee

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The relationship between Victor Joseph and Thomas Builds-the-Fire (Smoke Signals) heavily revolves around the idea “passing” and the floating signifiers that allow one to pass. Similar to the relationship between Irene and Claire (“Passing” by Nella Larsen), Victor and Thomas struggle with their Native American identities while living on their reservation surrounded by a dominantly White America. Victor Joseph takes on the role of passing as White once his father abandons him. It is a representation of his Native American identity abandoning him, which ultimately leaves him searching for a new identity that is neither Native American nor American. He has a love for basketball acts as a way for him to partake in an American tradition. This allows him to pass as white and not feel Native American.

The scene where Victor is playing basketball and Thomas sits off to the side symbolizes both characters identities and signifiers. The color of Victor and the other Native American basketball player’s shirts are red, white, and blue. They are the physical representation of America being part of their identities. Notice how their clothes are American but their hair remains long. This shows they still retain some connection to their Native American roots.

In this scene Victor is seen without his head. The removal of the heads blurs the viewer from knowing the race of Victor. We can’t see his hair, his face; we are to rely on the signifiers to understand who this person is. Victor is wearing converse, “American” branded shoes that were popular among White Americans. He is also wearing “Blue jeans” the symbol of the American culture, it’s origins stemming from America. By wearing clothes that represent the American culture it can be concluded he is trying to pass as white. Notice in the background how a glimpse of the American flag and of the bald eagle is behind Victor. This is also very representative of who Victor is trying to be, non Native America, White. The eagle and the flag (like the jeans and converse) are major symbols of American culture. Everything about this scene is American, but ironically the body in the scene is Native American.

In contrast to the previous scene, Thomas sits off to the side. He is not wearing American colors or participating in playing basketball. His hair is fashioned in more of a traditional manner (Braids) and is dressed more conservative. His braided hair shows that he puts more emphasis on his Native American looks. Braids show that he takes time to look Native American in contrast to Victor who lets his hair hang loose. The lack of American color in his clothing (wears dark colors) suggests that he is resisting conformity to the American culture. Coming from the Native American culture full of color into the White world, Thomas rather save color for when he is in his own society (not in an American gym).

Victor stops and asks Thomas for the ball. In the background the Eagle head is again seen in full print on the wall right above Victor. Both the American and Native American cultures see the eagle as a symbol of freedom. Victor is the eagle, someone who has freedom in both worlds. Through signifiers both Victor and Thomas are able to pass and represent their cultures. Victor is able to pass as both White and Native American by wearing “American Culture” clothes and basketball. Thomas remains Native American through his braided hair and lack of participating in American activities.

Hair and It’s Importance in Smoke Signals

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I found the most fascinating part of the film to be in the very beginning. It really sets up the audience for the rest of the film. I wanted to actually focus on one specific part of the film that is not actually shown in the film. Probably the most symbolic part of the whole film is when Arnold Joseph cuts off his hair. To find out more information on hair in American Indian culture, I watched an episode on Native Voice. I do not know much about American Indian cultures, but I do know that each Indian tribe has its own culture, therefore making up a variety of different cultures. The audience can probably assume from the content clues in this film that hair is a very important aspect of this tribe’s culture. Some American Indians believe that hair represents strength and knowledge. A person never cuts their hair, so other people know how long they have been on this Earth. Therefore, it shows how knowledgeable people are. The fact that Arnold Joseph cuts all his hair off and never grows it back could show that he is a weak, unintelligent person. The ceremony of cutting one’s hair off, however, is very personal and private according to Native Voice. The person decides to cut their own hair. That could be one of the reasons why Joseph’s hair cutting is left out of the movie. It was too emotional for him, and he did it in complete privacy. So, it could be that Arnold Joseph sees himself as weak. He started the fire because he was drunk, yet even after the fire he could not stop drinking. He could have seen this as a weakness within himself. He also might see himself as foolish and unworthy of having the long hair of an intelligent person. He killed two people and caused their son to be an orphan. He also almost killed Thomas and Victor and countless other people in that fire. Long hair is also a sign of respect. If Joseph does not respect himself, then who will? Arnold cutting off his hair has a tremendous effect on both his son and Thomas. It shows Thomas how much he really atoned for his sin of starting the fire. Even twenty-two years later, Joseph still refuses to grow back his hair. Many American Indians would cut their hair after a real life changing event or in mourning of someone who died. Yet, for Victor, it also shows how his dad cannot leave the pat behind. He brings this little bit of history with him that effects his relationship with his son. In this scene, I think Sherman Alexie is commenting on the unreliable nature of stereotypes that Americans have developed. Here, the hair functions as a floating signifier because it can easily be altered. A lot of Americans think of American Indians as having long hair. So, when an Indian decides to cut off their hair, they can “pass” as being a white American. The hair is a physical attribute that cannot be reliably used as a sign of a person’s race. American identities are not easily definable. Sherman Alexie might be saying that even though all American cultures are different, we all have our own ways of mourning which are equally symbolic, important aspects of our lives.

“Native Voice TV the significance of hair in Native American Culture”. Myrezspace.com. Myrezspace, 21 June 2010. Web. 2 Dec. 2010.