Disney's Pocahontas and the Real Pocahontas

According to an article written by Gary Edgerton and Cathy Jackson published in the Journal of Popular Film and Television, the creators of the movie Pocahontas intended to downplay "issues of racism, colonialism, alienation and environmentalism by focusing on the romance between the main characters Pocahontas and John Smith." The authors add that the film succeeded in "enhancing public interest in Native Americans" as evidenced in the increase of tourists in Indian settlements." Even if true, the film could be roundly criticized for its historical accuracy and sexual stereotypes.

The authors suggest that Disney executives and animators had a real sense when they developed the storyline and scripted this film that their goal would be political correctness. The authors note that Disney hired a number of local Native American consultants to advise the production team, and that Native American performers were cast to provide voices and characterizations for the main American Indian roles. Apparently, Disney's goal was to avoid a stereotypical characterization of American Indians in some of its previous films as either "noble anachronisms" or "savage reactionaries." Unfortunately, many people believe that this film failed to achieve this objective to the extent that the story was developed around another historical stereotype involving Native Americans. This one involves Native American women being maidenly and demure "Indian princesses." This was not simply a plo

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roach to storytelling, and everything to do with Disney's ability to make money by either ignoring or exploiting stereotypes and misconceptions about Pocahontas and Native Americans. According to an article written by a Lauren Dundes published in Social Science Journal, Disney's animated heroine from movie Pocahontas has been lauded as a new type of protagonist differing markedly from her stereotypical female predecessors in other Disney movies. In reality, by placing the needs of her community ahead of her personal desires, Pocahontas fulfills modern societal expectations in which young women are expected to progress from the self-absorption in relationships to selfless dedication with special emphasis on their roles as caregivers and as nurturers. The decision to create a fairytale about the life of Pocahontas, rather than as a prominent historical figure, is another source of concern and criticism. In the movie, Pocahontas is capable of jumping off high waterfalls without injury, is able to speak with trees, and is able to comprehend foreign languages almost immediately. The animators made Native Americans look and speak like modern-day Caucasians. In this film, the English are greedy, ill-mannered, intolerant

Category: Film - D