The Absolute True Diary Of A Part Time Indian Analysis

The contextual values held by composers of different texts allow for varying interpretations and expressions of similar thematic concerns. This is made evident in Sherman Alexi’s novel ‘The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian’ (2007) and Ivan Sen’s film ‘Beneath Clouds’ (2002) which explore ideas regarding the limitations of isolated communities to provide opportunities and the cycles of destructive behaviour associated with disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Alexie’s experiences in a contemporary American society less open to segregation reflect in the hopeful tone of his novel. However, the contextual values of Sen in a modern Australian society with multicultural values but a strong undercurrent of racism, intolerance and narrow-mindedness is reflected in the film’s less optimistic expression of its ideas.
The contextual values of
Alexie’s use of italics in Junior’s revelation that ‘It sucks to be poor, ant it sucks to feel that you somehow deserve to be poor…And because you’re Indian you start believing you’re destined to be poor. It’s an ugly circle and there’s nothing you can do about it,’ and Mr P’s statement to Junior affirming ‘the only thing you kids are being taught is how to give up,’ highlights the cultural attitudes of the isolated Indigenous communities regarding decisions not to further education to pursue greater opportunities but rather, participate in unproductive and destructive behaviour. The sarcastic tone in the narration during Junior’s sister’s funeral ‘How do we honour the drunken death of a young married couple? HEY LET’S GET DRUNK,’ reinforces the dysfunctionality of the community which contribute to destructive cycles of behaviour. In contrast, Sen implements shot selections to express this notion,