Part-Time Indian Identity
The struggle to find one's place in a world characterised by disadvantage and disconnection from mainstream society is explored in both Sherman Alexie's novel "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" and Ivan Sen's feature film "Beneath Clouds". Both texts delve into the protagonists individual battles to find their identity and their quest to overcome the disadvantage that is linked to their heritage, however they differ as Alexie and Sen take varying approaches in effectively communicating these thematic concerns. The idea of individual empowerment and struggle to search for one's identity is portrayed in Sherman Alexie's "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian". Alexie's novel is a coming-of-age story written in the first
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The poverty faced by Junior's community results in his lack of opportunity . The 6 panel storyboard on page 88 shows the difficulties Junior faces when travelling to school as a result of his poverty. The staccato use of language and flat tone in the dialogue of the graphic emphasises on Junior's hopelessness that he is forced to cope with, as seen in the caption "Next Week: Start over (but in a different order!)". However the recurring motif of the road in the panels shows Juniors will to go to school in order to break out of the cycle of poverty. Further, the use of cartoons has a thematic link to the poverty experienced by Junior and his community. He draws because he ‘wants the world to pay attention to him’ and he knows that drawing is the ‘only way he can become rich and famous’. Therefore, the visual imagery has an added poignancy to it, illustrating both Junior’s emotions and feelings, alongside his desire to escape the cycle of poverty that entrapped his community. Alcoholism and violence is also linked to poverty. When Junior learns of his sister's death, he immediately assumes "OF COURSE THEY WERE DRUNK! THEY'RE INDIANS!". The use of capitalisation places huge emphasis on how Junior recognises that numerous deaths occur as a direct result of alcohol and that it is one of the biggest threats to his
The poverty faced by Junior's community results in his lack of opportunity . The 6 panel storyboard on page 88 shows the difficulties Junior faces when travelling to school as a result of his poverty. The staccato use of language and flat tone in the dialogue of the graphic emphasises on Junior's hopelessness that he is forced to cope with, as seen in the caption "Next Week: Start over (but in a different order!)". However the recurring motif of the road in the panels shows Juniors will to go to school in order to break out of the cycle of poverty. Further, the use of cartoons has a thematic link to the poverty experienced by Junior and his community. He draws because he ‘wants the world to pay attention to him’ and he knows that drawing is the ‘only way he can become rich and famous’. Therefore, the visual imagery has an added poignancy to it, illustrating both Junior’s emotions and feelings, alongside his desire to escape the cycle of poverty that entrapped his community. Alcoholism and violence is also linked to poverty. When Junior learns of his sister's death, he immediately assumes "OF COURSE THEY WERE DRUNK! THEY'RE INDIANS!". The use of capitalisation places huge emphasis on how Junior recognises that numerous deaths occur as a direct result of alcohol and that it is one of the biggest threats to his