"There, There" blog post #1
1. Discuss the development of the "Urban Indian" identity and ownership of that label. How does it relate to the push for assimilation by the United States government? How do the characters in There There navigate this modern form of identity alongside their ancestral roots?
"There, There" is one of the few novels that give the "Urban Indian" identity a platform in literature. Tommy Orange begins the novel by discussing the significance of the lack of Indian representation, because there exists a single, radical perception of Native Americans as wild people who practice an exotic religion and live isolated within tribes. The "Urban Indian" identity is not explored because it does not have the shock-value and contrast than the primitive Indian does with European/Western culture. The Urban Indian, instead, has the potential to blend or live normally within city society, and yet are connected as a group by their underlying shared heritage and culture. Tommy Orange uses multiple main character perspectives to show the various situations and forms that the "Urban Indian" identity make take, and emphasize that this ancestry may or may not play a prevalent role in an individuals' everyday life.
The author, Tommy Orange, is able to represent this identity without stealing the focus from the particular character by following each persons' personal story as it evolves. These stories eventually come to embody the Urban Indian identity, rather than forcing the Native American ties to dictate a main character's perspective, which would create the sense that the story was written to suit an Indian narrative.
Through the characters of Tony Loneman and Edwin Black, Orange shows that Native Americans are not solely defined by their ancestry. Because of this, the person might be plagued by modern obstacles just as anyone else in the city might. The vices of white society include alcohol, which Tony Loneman's mother consumed during her pregnancy, inflicting "The 'Drome," or FAS, on her child. Loneman is an example of the Native American values straying due to the indulgences of the Western culture. Loneman harbors resentment and bitterness towards his mother, as she is complicit in his suffering. His identity as a Urban Indian is mentioned by his character usually in a sarcastic way, until he actually finds a sense of peace from donning the traditional clothing he wore as a child.
This is contrasted by the character Dene Oxendene, who questions his own rightful place in the Indian culture because he is only "half" indian and physically appears white. Through all the characters the single Indian perception is a driving force in their identity crisis'. It is clear that in some way, each character questions their place in the culture because they aren't "native enough" in the traditional definition of the word. Dene is able to connect with his familial roots through a project that was left to him by his uncle—usually absent from Dene's life due to his alcoholism. In this story, Oxendene explores his own Indian identity through his experiences with the Urban Indian community.
"There, There" is one of the few novels that give the "Urban Indian" identity a platform in literature. Tommy Orange begins the novel by discussing the significance of the lack of Indian representation, because there exists a single, radical perception of Native Americans as wild people who practice an exotic religion and live isolated within tribes. The "Urban Indian" identity is not explored because it does not have the shock-value and contrast than the primitive Indian does with European/Western culture. The Urban Indian, instead, has the potential to blend or live normally within city society, and yet are connected as a group by their underlying shared heritage and culture. Tommy Orange uses multiple main character perspectives to show the various situations and forms that the "Urban Indian" identity make take, and emphasize that this ancestry may or may not play a prevalent role in an individuals' everyday life.
The author, Tommy Orange, is able to represent this identity without stealing the focus from the particular character by following each persons' personal story as it evolves. These stories eventually come to embody the Urban Indian identity, rather than forcing the Native American ties to dictate a main character's perspective, which would create the sense that the story was written to suit an Indian narrative.
Through the characters of Tony Loneman and Edwin Black, Orange shows that Native Americans are not solely defined by their ancestry. Because of this, the person might be plagued by modern obstacles just as anyone else in the city might. The vices of white society include alcohol, which Tony Loneman's mother consumed during her pregnancy, inflicting "The 'Drome," or FAS, on her child. Loneman is an example of the Native American values straying due to the indulgences of the Western culture. Loneman harbors resentment and bitterness towards his mother, as she is complicit in his suffering. His identity as a Urban Indian is mentioned by his character usually in a sarcastic way, until he actually finds a sense of peace from donning the traditional clothing he wore as a child.
This is contrasted by the character Dene Oxendene, who questions his own rightful place in the Indian culture because he is only "half" indian and physically appears white. Through all the characters the single Indian perception is a driving force in their identity crisis'. It is clear that in some way, each character questions their place in the culture because they aren't "native enough" in the traditional definition of the word. Dene is able to connect with his familial roots through a project that was left to him by his uncle—usually absent from Dene's life due to his alcoholism. In this story, Oxendene explores his own Indian identity through his experiences with the Urban Indian community.
Phenomenal blog post Bailey! I agree with you in that I think that it was almost necessary for Tommy Orange to write this book in order for people across the nation or even across the globe to understand how most Natives live today. I also think that Orange did a great job in showing the many different effects urbanization had on different personalities. For example, Edwin has become unattached from his roots (even though it was what he studied in college) and attached to his phone, his video games, and his food. Other people, like Tony and Octavio, result to crime in order to support their families. Jacquie became a drunk so as to forget her problems. Dene, however, has fully embraced his heritage and is working on a film that acknowledges all of these different stories. I think that this novel is also especially interesting to read after reading Ceremony because it is almost like a sequel after the Natives had "assimilated" to urban life.
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