https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial Think about what you learned from the video introducing Post-Colonial Literary Theory, including what we discussed in class. Then, in the space below discuss how this theory might connect with issues and events in the novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Be sure to reference sources and include page numbers for examples from the text. en-us 2018-08-22 19:11:17 UTC 2025-11-14 13:42:12 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Tent.png https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994414 "In Wellpinit, I was a freak because I loved books. In Reardan, I was a joyous freak." (page 98) Junior has problems connecting with either group (Native Americans and whites). His ethnic identity has been taken away as well as his inner identity. ]]> 2019-09-04 16:00:53 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994414 https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994701 "Everybody in Reardan assumed we Spokanes made lots of money because we had a casino. But that casino, mismanaged and too far away from major highways, was a money-losing business. In order to make money from the casino, you had to work at the casino" (pg. 119)]]> 2019-09-04 16:01:18 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994701 https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994713 "They are constantly scraping together enough money to pay for gas, to get me lunch money, to buy me a new pair of jeans and a few new shirts". Throughout the book we can see that Arnold has been living in poverty. This is because his parents haven't been given the opportunity to have decent paying jobs due to colonialism. Even though both of his parents work hard to provide, they are always just scraping by to survive. ]]> 2019-09-04 16:01:19 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994713 https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994725 The idea post colonialism is very prevalent in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. One example is found on page 35 as Arnold's teacher explains how he was taught to teach Native Americans: "we were supposed to kill the Indian to save the child." This relates to post colonialism as it highlights the "colonists" way of imposing their ideals by diminishing the true identity of the "colonized." ]]> 2019-09-04 16:01:20 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994725 https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994733 An effect of post colonialism that I noticed is when Arnold began to have a crush on Penelope and he made up the conversation between him and Rowdy believing that he needed to act as something else to catch her attention. "How do I make a beautiful white girl fall in love with me?" "The first thing you have to do is change the way you look, the way you talk and the way you walk. And then she'll think you're her tricking Prince Charming." ( page 81)]]> 2019-09-04 16:01:20 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994733 https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994738 "They call me an apple because they think I'm red on the outside and white on the inside" (pg.132).  This quote stands out to me because it strongly shows the "us vs them" world view that the Indians from rez have. The fact that Arnold wanted to go out to better his life is something the Indians see as being traitorous instead of courageous. ]]> 2019-09-04 16:01:21 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994738 https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994788 "Zitty and lonely, I woke up on the reservation as an Indian, and somewhere on the road to Reardan, I became something less than Indian" (Alexie 83). Even though Arnold started going to Reardan because he wanted to venture out of the Rez, he still gets a lot of backlash about it because the people on the Rez feel like he is turning his back on his culture.]]> 2019-09-04 16:01:26 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994788 https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994820 The Diary connects to post colonialism when Arnold was in Mr. Dodge's classroom. Mr. Dodge did not believe that Arnold knew about petrified wood because he was Native American. After Arnold explained the process of petrified wood Mr. Dodge asked him if he learned that on the reservation, and he made fun of the education that was provided on the reservation. It took a Gordy telling Mr. Dodge that Arnold was right before he would believe him. ]]> 2019-09-04 16:01:30 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994820 https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994941 The overall poverty that Junior's family experiences is an example of post- colonialism. Having to hitch hike everywhere he goes is a sad and clear example of how impoverished his family truly is. A lot of this is catalyzed by his father's alcoholism. When his father doesn't have money for gas, Junior guesses that the gas money was spent on alcohol, or gambled away at the casino. ]]> 2019-09-04 16:01:41 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994941 https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994992 The first example of post colonial Theory that comes to mind is when His teacher decides to sit down with Arnold and basicallly explain the concept of "hope" to him that he can do anything that he wants. The fact that his friend is stuck along with the rest of his family almost by choice. Arnold then realizes that this concept is something of a white man thing. This is a good example of post colonial theory because of the adaptation of idealism in Native American culture. ]]> 2019-09-04 16:01:45 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379994992 https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379995265 One of the effects of Post-Colonialism in this novel is seen in the relationship between Penelope and Arnold. Arnold questions why a white girl would want to date a poor Indian boy. He does not believe that it is actually because she loves him. Because of this, he goes to his friends to ask them how to get a white girl to love him. Both Rowdy and Gordy believe that his question is racist. His thought process is challenged by this]]> 2019-09-04 16:02:07 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379995265 https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379995351 Arnold speaks to Gordy about how him and Rowdy are no longer best friends because Arnold left the rez. Arnold is taught to believe that "Indians have to act white to make their lives better", while "some Indians think you become white if you try to make your life better, if you become successful." ]]> 2019-09-04 16:02:16 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379995351 https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379999345 One of the most shocking effects of Post-Colonialism that is prevalent in the novel is how ashamed Indians now feel about their identity. "I figured it wouldn't do me any good if they knew I was dirt poor. What would they think of me if they knew I sometimes had to hitchhike to school... I pretended to be middle class. I pretended I belonged." Arnold feels so ashamed of being poor, which is something that practically come with the identity of being Indian, that he puts up a facade when around his peers; he white-washes himself, metaphorically speaking. This connects with the theory by conveying how colonization and assimilation makes Indians feel like second or third-hand citizens, unless they entirely assimilate.]]> 2019-09-04 16:08:24 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/379999345 parisliu https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/2165237530 "They are constantly scraping together enough money to pay for gas, to get me lunch money, to buy me a new pair of jeans and a few new shirts". Throughout the book we can see that Arnold has been living in poverty. This is because his parents haven't been given the opportunity to have decent paying jobs due to colonialism. Even though both of his parents work hard to provide, they are always just scraping by to survive. ]]> 2022-04-30 12:35:13 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/2165237530 parisliu https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/2166614902 One of the most shocking effects of Post-Colonialism that is prevalent in the novel is how ashamed Indians now feel about their identity. "I figured it wouldn't do me any good if they knew I was dirt poor. What would they think of me if they knew I sometimes had to hitchhike to school... I pretended to be middle class. I pretended I belonged." Arnold feels so ashamed of being poor, which is something that practically come with the identity of being Indian, that he puts up a facade when around his peers; he white-washes himself, metaphorically speaking. This connects with the theory by conveying how colonization and assimilation makes Indians feel like second or third-hand citizens, unless they entirely assimilate.]]> 2022-05-02 11:37:33 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/485fa18postcolonial/wish/2166614902