Problem
I. Native American author Sherman Alexie's novel Lone Ranger and Tonto: Fistfight in Heaven and its subsequent film adaptation entitled Smoke Signals tell the story of Victor, an Indian whose alcoholic, abusive father left him and his mother when Victor was a young boy. In the movie, Victor's father has died off the reservation, and as the only son, Victor must go claim his father's ashes. Below is a clip of the movie's final scene where Victor releases his father's ashes into the river. The scene begins with Victor's friend Thomas being asked, "Tell me what happened. Tell me what's going to happen." Thomas replies with words from a poem by Dick Lourie entitled "Forgiving our Fathers". After watching the clip and reading through the poem, what lesson do you think Alexie is attempting to teach by using this poem in this context? Is it forgiveness? Unforgiveness? Or something different. Use two examples from the poem and/or images in the movie clip to support your argument.
II. Below is a video with Mike Moyers interviewing Sherman Alexie. Alexie discusses how being bi-polar affects him as a writer, how being an Indian immigrant is a positive thing, and how the concept of tribalism caused the 9/11 disaster. You're welcome to view the whole interview, but I am only requiring you to watch 12:15-15:06. After clicking "Play," simply scroll the play bar to the12 minute 15 second mark to hear Alexie read his poem entitled "The Facebook Sonnet" and then listen to his follow-up explanation of how communication via social media such as Twitter and Facebook is "one dimensional" and "really insulting to the complexity of being human."
i. What main point do you think Alexie is making through "The Facebook Sonnet"? Use one example from the poem to support your claim.
ii. Do you agree with Alexie's assertion in the interview that communication via the Internet takes "the poetry of life" and reduces it to a "dry, scientific" outline? Explain.