Difference between revisions of "329-2010--Week 2 Questions/Comments"
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Although the representation is hard to come by, the film would hardly count as a legitimate primary source. However, as mentioned in class over and over again, films can act as both a primary and secondary source. In this case, we could easily look at Pocahontas and how the film fits as a primary source in regards to the 1990s views of Native Americans. To focus on Disney and its move to represent other ethnicities, Cilla's right that Disney really opened the floor by expanding the different ethnic groups discussed. Interestingly, there is a reference on the wikipedia article for the film to '''a native american website (please take with grain of salt), wherein they offered to provide Disney with information to make the film more culturally accurate, but Disney rejected their offer (see: [http://www.powhatan.org/pocc.html here]).''' Perhaps it could make an interesting study in Disney's continuation of factoring out the native's opinions? Certainly, a large jump for a conclusion, but the film points to Disney's ability to take up whatever mythos they want and twist it. | Although the representation is hard to come by, the film would hardly count as a legitimate primary source. However, as mentioned in class over and over again, films can act as both a primary and secondary source. In this case, we could easily look at Pocahontas and how the film fits as a primary source in regards to the 1990s views of Native Americans. To focus on Disney and its move to represent other ethnicities, Cilla's right that Disney really opened the floor by expanding the different ethnic groups discussed. Interestingly, there is a reference on the wikipedia article for the film to '''a native american website (please take with grain of salt), wherein they offered to provide Disney with information to make the film more culturally accurate, but Disney rejected their offer (see: [http://www.powhatan.org/pocc.html here]).''' Perhaps it could make an interesting study in Disney's continuation of factoring out the native's opinions? Certainly, a large jump for a conclusion, but the film points to Disney's ability to take up whatever mythos they want and twist it. | ||
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| + | Yes, Disney's Pocahontas is historically inaccurate-not to mention that '''basic laws of physics are also suspended (i.e. diving off an water and living ect.).''' Yet what I find more interesting is '''what Toplin talked about in his work, what historians can learn about the socitety that made the film.''' More specifically, what can we learn by looking at what was left in the film despite its inaccuracies. The first thing that struck me was '''Disney portrayal of the [http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=define%3A+Noble+savage&aq=0&aqi=l1g1&aql=&oq=noble+savage+def&gs_rfai=C8p770n5-TLvOD5aCywSwhb1oAAAAqgQFT9CIA1w&pbx=1 noble savage] idea through out the film'''. In the work there is almost constant imagery suggesting that the Native Americans are more in-tune with god, nature, and each other simply because they lack what the colonists have, advanced technology. The question is then, what outstanding events might have made the filmmakers more likely to put this idea in the film (I'm not arguing its wrong or right I'm looking at this objectively). In 1995 the begins of the Free Tibet movement were starting possibly generating a cultural desire to oppose more militaristic forces. Also, the film spends a lot of time attempting to educate its viewers about the negative connotations with using the word "savage." This prompted one of the most interesting historical inaccuracies I noticed, which is the John Smith himself attempts to dissuade his fellow colonists form using the word "savage", while in his memoirs make free use of this word. So, '''I believe the correct approach to viewing this film is the one Toplin outlines, by treating it as a primary source on the times that created it.''' Disney films are notorious for slipping in subliminal messaging, or Hollywoodizing stroies. If we go into the film knowing this we can learn much about modern history, -Isaac Whalen | ||
== General comments for Pocahontas == | == General comments for Pocahontas == | ||
