Sherman Alexie Interview

What are some of Sherman Alexie's literary professions?

• Novelist, poet, short story writer, and screenwriter.

• Journalist, playwright, essayist, and critic.

• Historian, biographer, editor, and translator.

• Lyricist, cartoonist, blogger, and columnist.

How does Sherman Alexie describe his current standing within the literary community?

• He remains primarily identified with Native American literature, separate from mainstream writers.

• He feels like an outsider, despite his success.

• He has joined the ranks of highly established literary writers, with his Native identity becoming secondary.

• He is part of a close-knit community of Native American writers who frequently collaborate.

What does Sherman Alexie believe has contributed to his success as a writer?

• His exclusive focus on a single literary genre.

• The changing perceptions of his career by critics.

• His ability to work in multiple genres and his diverse influences.

• His consistent focus on Spokane Indian males as his primary subject.

What is Sherman Alexie's perspective on a writer engaging in multiple genres or activities beyond traditional writing?

• He views it as "selling out" if done for economic reasons.

• He believes it's a modern trend that deviates from traditional literary paths.

• He sees it as pursuing artistic possibilities, following the example of his multi-genre Native American literary ancestors.

• He thinks it dilutes a writer's focus and quality of work.

What percentage of his published work does the speaker consider to be

• 1%

• 2%

• 5%

• 10%

What does the speaker suggest is lost when technology makes it too easy to revise creative works?

• The ability to share work quickly

• The hands-on creative process

• The visibility of flaws and imperfections

• The potential for widespread distribution

Why does the speaker consider e-books elitist?

• They are only available to a select group of readers.

• They promote only literary writing.

• They are too expensive for most people.

• They are controlled by large corporations.

What does the speaker believe is a significant drawback of the internet for artists and audiences?

• It makes it too easy to publish.

• It creates too much competition.

• It lacks a sense of community and sensory experience.

• It promotes only popular art.

What is the speaker's view on using substances to fuel creativity?

• It leads to a long and prolific artistic career.

• It is a sustainable method for producing great work.

• It results in a very short artistic life.

• It enhances the quality of writing indefinitely.

How does the speaker, as a Native American writer, approach the topic of alcoholism?

• He avoids the topic to prevent perpetuating stereotypes.

• He uses his personal and tribal experience with alcoholism as material for his writing.

• He believes it's a stereotype that doesn't need to be addressed.

• He writes about it solely for fictional and narrative purposes without social hope.