The film Smoke Signals is in fact a Native American coming-of-age story, but can also be related to the African American bildüngsroman . The film shows the viewer how the protagonist is handed all kinds of burdens and issues of pain, to himself and his people. Throughout the film you see how the main character Victor, learns to how to deal with the issues one at a time. You see him grow, and become more mature in his views. Relating him to the bildüngsroman makes it easier for the viewer to see these changes. Out of the seven emergence the ones that fit Victor and his friend Thomas are; the character engage in some form of artistic production. Protagonists reflect on world around them. Protagonists turn inward and reflect upon themselves, and protagonists engage in the project of self-fashioning.
             The main character Victor has had some serious issues in his life. From a very young age he has had to deal with his father's drinking, leading to his disappearance. Victory is a angry child seeking answers to his long lost questions. He looks around and sees the reservation that has been given to his people, and he is angry. Angry for what has happened to his people, angry for what has happened to his family, and most of all angry for what has happened to himself. As the movie goes on we see that Victor finds answers; not to everything, but to a large majority of his questions. The experiences he encounters changes his views on life, and on the people around him. Thus proof that this is a true coming-to-age story. From using the bildüngsroman we the viewers can track the key parts in the film to see when these vital character changes occurred.
             Artistic productions lead a large roll in all Native American tribes. One artistic property the Spokane Indians have is the art of story telling. One of the main reason this art is so widely used is because all they have left are stories. They have been striped of everything;...