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Pocahontas disney movie essay
Essay on native americans in american movies
A thesis statement on pocahontas the movie
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The Walt Disney productions may have wanted to have the right intentions in creating strong Native American characters but with them doing that they may have overlooked the issues that caused a lot of criticism. Movies have the ability to educate and influence a lot of audiences but because of all this I think that movies should be made historically factual in order to ensure the audiences get the right information on what they are watching. Like this Disney movie, Pocahontas, not having the right information can cause cultural and social problems between
The Disney movie Pocahontas is not historically accurate. There are many differences in the plot and characters. A few are that there was no love story between Pocahontas and John Smith, Pocahontas was 12 not 20 when John Smith came, John Smith was not tall and blond, and in the movie, they came to Jamestown in one ship. There are much more ways that the Movie is not historically accurate, but you can already see that it was very different from what actually happened.
The Historical Interaction Between the Europeans and Indians in the Disney Movie Pocahontas Over the past couple of weeks, we have been studying the story of the Native American (Indian) princess, Pocahontas. We have studied both literature and the 1995 Disney movie. I am going to write about what methods are used to portray the relationship between these two civilisations. Both media portray the same relationship between the civilisations; this is one of mistrust, misunderstanding and dislike. From the moment the Europeans landed in "the new world", the natives were not sure of what to think of them, they looked different, sounded different and carried themselves differently.
In 1995, Disney released their 33rd animated feature, Pocahontas, another film that featured Native Americans, but this time being the main focus. While generally receiving mixed to positive reviews and being a box office success, the film was harshly criticized for its historical inaccuracies and deemed offensive for seeming to have a bigger focus on the negative treatment of Pocahontas and her tribe by the Englishmen. Many critics argued that the film presents damaging stereotypes of American Indians. One of the native critics, Chief Roy Crazy Horse, claimed that Disney refused his tribe's offers to help create not only a more historically accurate, but also a more cultural film adaptation of the story. The lyrics of the
To conclude with “The General History of Virginia” and Disney’s version of Pocahontas, the two stories had two different opinions and views. Although, Disney’s portrayal of Pocahontas was perceived as an offense to the Native Americans, no one really knows the actual events that took place during that time. People will continue to think that John Smith’s version was a bit hysterical, while the Native Americans will take the Disney movie Pocahontas to an offense. John Smith and Disney both gave their own versions of their story. Others will continue to do the same.
Sixteen years after premiering as Disney’s thirty-third animated film, Pocahontas still incites excitement and wonder within those who wish for nothing more than to be a Disney princess. As Disney’s most notable attempt at political correctness, Pocahontas was created to entertain while attempting to maintain authenticity in regards to historical accuracy and in its fairness of depicting Native American culture. Jacquelyn Kilpatrick, the author of “Disney’s ‘Politically Correct’ Pocahontas”, feels the movie not only failed at being historically accurate but that it fell far short of being politically correct. The article, which appeared in the Fall, 1995 issue of Cineaste, contends the Disney production was duty bound in preserving the integrity of the Pocahontas legend and being both multiculturally and socially inoffensive. However, if being politically correct and constantly factual within any version of media made for entertainment were the standard, we would be left with documentaries and non-fiction. Artistic license allows for a literal account of events to become an engaging, accessible production.
Disney is a huge contributor to the misleading ideas and the way we view the Native population. In the movie Peter Pan with the scene showing the “Indians” they completely exaggerate their skin tone to make it a darkish red look. Not only is the skin tone altered, but they top it off with the iconic feather in the back of their hair. Another stereotype would be their actions during the movie when they put a hand over their mouth to make the whooping sound and dance around. I asked Sebastian Hunt, a member of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, what he thought of the clip I showed him of Peter Pan with the “Indians”. He replied, “ Wow I think it’s funny and sad that that's how the producers thought of the Native population when making the movie showing kids that's how we act, dance and most importantly look when in reality it’s not true at all.” That's not the only movie that Disney came out with that falsely portrays Natives. In Pocahontas they show the Natives as savages and even have a chant/song in the movie stating they are savages, barely even humans and dirty freaking devils. This is only one way that Western pop culture has brainwashed Americans to believe in such
...n a bit of a glamorous image as Pocahontas has been depicted as a beautiful, free spirited, brave and independent girl. Pocahontas is known, primarily because she became the hero of Euro-Americans as the "good Indian", one who saved the life of a white man. Not only is the "good Indian/bad Indian theme" inevitably given new life by Disney, but the history, as recorded by the English themselves, is badly falsified in the name of entertainment. Bibliography http://cougar.ucdavis.edu/nas/varese/nas191/Marie/home.html http://mytwobeadsworth.com/NAreclaimhollyimage.html http://www.academon.com/lib/paper/5846.html http://www.indiancountry.com/article/2565 http://www.free-termpapers.com/tp/30/mlo89.shtml http://www.uwm.edu/Library/special/exhibits/clastext/clspg135.htm http://www.powhatan.org/pocc.html http://nativenet.uthscsa.edu/alison-thesis/relation.html
They brought real Natives to play the Natives on the big screen and eventually movies were created by Natives themselves. Around the same time was the Hippie movement; many people wanted to be like the Natives they saw in the films even though it was not an accurate depiction of the Natives. They liked the 'positive stereotypes' of the Natives in the movies, the family unity and their strength as warriors. In the 1960's the American Indian Movement (AIM) also began and in 1973 The genocide at Wounded Knee occurred. Jim Jarmusch says “That is a genocide that occurred and the [American] culture wanted to perpetrate the idea that [the natives] these people are now mythological, you know, they don’t even really exist, they’re like dinosaurs.” This shows just how much Americans wanted to belittle the Natives, and despite succeeding for a number of years, the New Age of Cinema commenced and movies like Smoke Signals began what some would look at as a Renaissance. The Renaissance explained in Reel Injun discusses the rebirth of the Native American in the Hollywood films, and how the negative stereotypes went away with time. Reel Injun also makes a point to explain how it impacted not only the films but Americans who watched them, and ultimately America as a
When sitting down to watch either a TV or a movie, it is not thought about how much it references the fundamentals of American politics. Whether it is politics, political power, one of the bases of democracy, federalism or political culture, it is shown in almost every episode of a television series or movie that is produced. With so many crime dramas on TV or war movies that come out to theaters where it is obvious to see the connection between the two, a not so common place that one would think to see the fundamentals of American politics would be in Disney movies. Over the almost decade that Disney has been producing movies, a handful of them show many different aspects of American politics, one of which is Pocahontas.
Cowboys and Indians is the popular game played by many children played as a game of heroes and villains. Natives are villainized in American pop culture due to the history being told by educational institutions across the nation. There are not many positive roles popular in the media about Native Americans. Many roles are even played by white people. The costume representation is not accurate either. The disrespect towards them is especially seem on Halloween, when people dress as Natives in cute and sexy ways that they think represent their culture. War paint, beads, feathers and headdresses are ceremonial accessories that represent their culture, it not a fun costume to wear. Only if they are being criticized and ridiculed, like they have been in the past. Racism has also been a huge problem when it comes to using creative names for sports teams, like the Redskins for example. Redskin is a derogatory and offensive term towards Native Americans and many white people do not see it as wrong due to the privilege they inherited throughout history. The disrespect towards them has grown and today it seems that if Natives were not getting ridiculed, they are for the most part ignored. The concerns that King describes in his book explains how the past has wired Americans to believing everything they have once learned. White people
In the movies and television shows many of us grew up watching, a stereotypical and even racist view of Native Americans was portrayed. Many of us grew up believing these detrimental stereotypes, believing they were either accurate or were not harmful. Native Americans are portrayed as wild savages who kill mercilessly in the old westerns your grandfather watched on Thanksgiving Day. Native American women are portrayed as sexy princesses who protect the white men that would later—historically speaking—wipe out their culture completely in your Disney movies. Lastly, the Native Americans who are portrayed as poor, lazy drunks who regularly smoke hallucinogens are in your comedy television shows. Without realizing these harmful stereotypes and
In the essay, Disney’s “Politically Correct” Pocahontas written by Jacquelyn Kilpatrick, a considerable and well-known example of the media misleading the public, the Disney movie, Pocahontas is discussed.
Walt Disney, creator of all things “happily ever after”, renowned for his work in movies and tv, is not only a famous animator and film producer, he is also a pioneer in American history by changing the lives of many through his encouraging work in movies. Walt Disney is important to the study of American history because he created movies and tv shows that taught happiness and heartbreak to children. He taught them that being small cannot hold you back from being mighty and doing the right thing. He revealed different cultures to children, and broadened their views on the world around them. In doing this, he widened global communication and the understanding of varieties of cultures and ethnicities (4).
The Disney movies of Pocahontas tell a plot of a Native ¬American tribe and English colonists that fight for the land the Native Americans live on though war ultimately creating moderate peace. While keeping to their own sect, the imbalance of power between the two social groups is prevalent throughout much of the story. Walt Disney’s Pocahontas is more than a classic children’s movie. It is a thoughtful, well contrived narration that portrays a message that in order to fit in, you must be a certain race and born into a specific culture. Disney’s Pocahontas suggesting that the color of our skin shouldn’t matter when being accepted into social groups as well as the idea that arranged marriage should be rejected. Thus, treating people right could ultimately have a positive outcome and lastly, the film also suggests that family roles change without a mother figure.
Walt Disney was born December 5, 1901 Hermosa, Chicago,Illinois by parents Elias Disney and Flora Call Disney. Living with four other siblings, Walt Disney grew up knowing selflessness and the power of togetherness that he used latter on in his many lines of work. Known for being a entrepreneur, cartoonist, animator, voice actor, and film producer, Walt Disney has been successful in bring joy and happiness to everyone of all ages.Disney has made large stepping stones for the animated industry along with creating beautiful long lasting entertainment for all and teaching us that with hard work and dedication we can do anything we dream of.From his humble beginnings in an old garage to building his own empire, Walt Disney has proven to be one of the most influential people even today with his many accomplishments.Some of these many accomplishments include creating something that everyone of every age can enjoy, improving the quality of animation along with creating the first full length animated movie, and opening the doors for the next generation of Disney Co. workers.