I thought that the There There microlecture #1 was really interesting and gave a context that was really important for understanding the importance of the book. To be completely honest, I hadn't ever read a book written by a Native American author who was writing about their life until now. Senior year in high school, I did a project about the movie Pocahontas and its harmful impacts. A main focus of this project was recognizing the negative portrayal of Native Americans, much of which was supported by harmful stereotypes. This project really made me realize the importance of, when analyzing a source, keeping in mind the biases you, as a reader hold, as well as the biases the author may hold that could affect the factuality of their writing. I think this lesson is very applicable while reading There There. Even during the first chapter, I saw themes of alcoholism and drug use which is a very prevalent stereotype about Native American communities. So, while I had these preexisting understandings of being aware of biases before watching the microlecture, the video reemphasized the necessity of also understanding the long and complex history between Native Americans and colonizers. As we know, those who hold power get to shape history to fit the narrative they believe/want to tell. So, as I continue reading There There I am going to be sure to keep in mind how Tommy Orange's book challenges what I've been taught and to question what I've been taught if I see or learn something new from this text.
Hey Audrey! I liked your powerful quote "those who hold power get to shape history to fit the narrative they believe/want to tell." It reminds me of the quote "history is written by the victors." I agree that indigenous communities have been denied their storytelling power, and learning about indigenous literature and reading books like There There is a start to changing that tradition.
ReplyDeleteHello, Audrey! This post highlights the importance of being able to understand our own biases when analyzing art. I also noticed the prevalence of alcohol in There, There, which I understood to be a stereotype of Indigenous people. I wonder why the author chose to highlight something so stereotypical in a story about telling authentic stories to challenge exactly these stereotypes. I am sure the author will somehow challenge these perceptions later on, or at least comment on them.
ReplyDeleteIt's cool that you were able to connect your high school learning experiences to the book as well as the micro lecture. It seems this added connection gave you the ability to recognize stereotypes that are in the book.
ReplyDeleteHi Audrey, your project about Pocahantas sounds really interesting! I think it's great that you're reading "There There" with so much prior knowledge about stereotypes in Native American communities. We're already seeing these stereotypes in the book, and it's been upsetting to see their negative impacts.
ReplyDeleteHey Audrey! I totally agree with your idea of really being conscious while reading this book and trying not to give in to stereotypes or prejudices. Through this book, I hope I learn more about Native American communities; I already have learned quite a bit from the prologue and the first couple of chapters. I had previously not known about Alcatraz and it was quite shocking to hear about it the first time.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that one of the key topics in There There is challenging stereotypes. There There is much more than a history lesson, and seeks to change our perspective not just of the past but more importantly of the present.
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