I have no first hand experience or knowledge of reservation life. Only the cruel stereotypes and exaggerations. To comment from this position of ignorance would at best be judged as passing of gas.
Loved and admired every bit except the "White Indians with big Indian names", which --in my family's case--would be a valid put-down, respectfully absorbed from Rez relatives. We know our place in the pecking order of being Indin! An utterly fantastic and unpredictable read.
I’mintrigues by the concept of Magical Realism. We have been telling stories since the beginning of time. We call them metaphors, myths, etc. But I think we lose an inter-generational teaching opportunity when we turn them into “We’ll only deal in reality here — like it or lump it. Thanks for all the tales you bring to teach folks who are willing to learn!
As I read, I hear the story-telling voice of Evan Adams in my head. He will always be Thomas Builds- the- Fire to me, with his lilting melody of the rez, his joy in telling "truth and lies". Great story, Sherman.
If that were the measure of funny then nothing would be funny. Satire wouldn't exist. Political humor wouldn't exist. Sure, there is gentle comedy (I think of Lucy and Ethel trying to work that chocolate factory line in I Love Lucy) but it's the stuff with teeth that ends up being the greater art.
Didn't expect to be arguing philosophy of comedy here. I do think your work is very insightful and funny! But I feel compelled to respond. Humans can and do laugh at other people's (and animal's) behaviours and misfortunes and if we are making fun of people who give themselves authority it feels justified but still, I would argue, it is not our best trait. The book "Me Funny" by Drew Hayden Taylor provides some food for thought: laughing up the "hierarchy" is more accepted than laughing down, the latter indicating prejudice, racism, sexism and other hurtful -isms.
If I listed here the 100 greatest standup comedians of all time, I'd guess that 90 of them utterly ignore the "laugh up, laugh down" philosophy. I'd argue that "laugh up, laugh down" philosophy is a form of censorship by suggesting there is such a thing as "proper" or "moral" comedy and that we should prevent such comedy from having a "platform." As soon as somebody uses the word "platform" then I know they're aspiring authoritarians who want to control thought.
I have actually heard some standup "comics" say that there should be no restrictions on their jokes ("freedom of speech" argument) and that in fact prejudicial content can actually break taboos/barriers. Maybe, if the person being mocked can laugh at their own foibles/appearance, race, religion etc. My rather academic portion of this thread is probably funny to some and if it brings a chortle I am glad to have lightened your day.
I think this might be the first "magical realist" story I've posted on Substack so it's easy to think the metaphors are only metaphors. But metaphors can also be literal (and thus stop being metaphors).
This must be the most irreverent story ever! I especially liked the ending with Tripod and his amputated leg sharing the same sky. And - your imaginative humor coincides with a very profound little book , "Life after death", by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. She writes that our bodies are just cocoons for the spirit and after death the blind can see and those with amputated limbs have the sensation again of those limbs. Once I get my printer working again I'm going to print out this story and slip it into Kubler-Ross's book.
Way to blend the spices on this one! At least five moods carried simultaneously.
I have no first hand experience or knowledge of reservation life. Only the cruel stereotypes and exaggerations. To comment from this position of ignorance would at best be judged as passing of gas.
Wonderful! Thank for a great laugh! What do you call a dog with one leg.......? Pogo?
Unicycle?
I’m ready for a new book of short stories. Yes
I absolutely love this piece. Alexie at his best again and again! Woot!
This is hysterical, thank you.
Loved and admired every bit except the "White Indians with big Indian names", which --in my family's case--would be a valid put-down, respectfully absorbed from Rez relatives. We know our place in the pecking order of being Indin! An utterly fantastic and unpredictable read.
I’mintrigues by the concept of Magical Realism. We have been telling stories since the beginning of time. We call them metaphors, myths, etc. But I think we lose an inter-generational teaching opportunity when we turn them into “We’ll only deal in reality here — like it or lump it. Thanks for all the tales you bring to teach folks who are willing to learn!
Hmmm left out things because of dyslexic fingers again . . .
As I read, I hear the story-telling voice of Evan Adams in my head. He will always be Thomas Builds- the- Fire to me, with his lilting melody of the rez, his joy in telling "truth and lies". Great story, Sherman.
Thomas is autobiographical!
Yes, Sherman. I know that... and a beautiful soul.
Laughed ‘till I cried.
Thanks, Mavis.
Yep,I get that == was indulging in a little pun Rey.
Thank you so much for this content! 💕
Thanks.
except when funny to one is hurtful to another
If that were the measure of funny then nothing would be funny. Satire wouldn't exist. Political humor wouldn't exist. Sure, there is gentle comedy (I think of Lucy and Ethel trying to work that chocolate factory line in I Love Lucy) but it's the stuff with teeth that ends up being the greater art.
Didn't expect to be arguing philosophy of comedy here. I do think your work is very insightful and funny! But I feel compelled to respond. Humans can and do laugh at other people's (and animal's) behaviours and misfortunes and if we are making fun of people who give themselves authority it feels justified but still, I would argue, it is not our best trait. The book "Me Funny" by Drew Hayden Taylor provides some food for thought: laughing up the "hierarchy" is more accepted than laughing down, the latter indicating prejudice, racism, sexism and other hurtful -isms.
If I listed here the 100 greatest standup comedians of all time, I'd guess that 90 of them utterly ignore the "laugh up, laugh down" philosophy. I'd argue that "laugh up, laugh down" philosophy is a form of censorship by suggesting there is such a thing as "proper" or "moral" comedy and that we should prevent such comedy from having a "platform." As soon as somebody uses the word "platform" then I know they're aspiring authoritarians who want to control thought.
I have actually heard some standup "comics" say that there should be no restrictions on their jokes ("freedom of speech" argument) and that in fact prejudicial content can actually break taboos/barriers. Maybe, if the person being mocked can laugh at their own foibles/appearance, race, religion etc. My rather academic portion of this thread is probably funny to some and if it brings a chortle I am glad to have lightened your day.
Alas! He got the ax? But a starring role anyway.
He is literally the stars!
I’m slow before coffee! Great story.
I think this might be the first "magical realist" story I've posted on Substack so it's easy to think the metaphors are only metaphors. But metaphors can also be literal (and thus stop being metaphors).
This must be the most irreverent story ever! I especially liked the ending with Tripod and his amputated leg sharing the same sky. And - your imaginative humor coincides with a very profound little book , "Life after death", by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. She writes that our bodies are just cocoons for the spirit and after death the blind can see and those with amputated limbs have the sensation again of those limbs. Once I get my printer working again I'm going to print out this story and slip it into Kubler-Ross's book.
Thanks, Kate. I was thinking of Carl Sagan when I wrote the ending. His notion that we are all the stuff of stars.
Great story! Thank you, Sherman.
Thanks, Mary.