At one point in the movie, the song "Savages" makes an appearance. The lyrics are unbelievably offensive and racist towards these Native Americans. "They're savages, savages, barely even human," is repeated multiple times within the song. It portrays the Indians as unpredictable hooligans that only follow through with physical carnal pleasures with the song having a complete lack of acknowledgement for any intelligence whatsoever. The lyrics clearly outlaw the mixing of races, saying "They're not like you and me. Which means they must be evil. We must sound the drums of war!" I am honestly unsure what the writers were thinking as they wrote this song that was meant for children. Something that makes it even worse is that these "savages" retaliate, calling the settlers demon and "paleface," in an attempt from the writers to try and even out the aggression from both parties.
Sure, they end up making it a love story between Pocahontas and Captain John Smith, a Native American and an English settler, with a happy ending and all, but how much of this was actually the case? In fact the whole movie twists history entirely, leaving out the cruelty and killings of many Native Americans, not touching on the fact that Pocahontas was not even a woman when the events actually took place, she was about twelve.
Another thing the movie did wrong was the visual aspect of the humans. Pocahontas's image was in that of standard American beauty, instead of whatever would be the norm of her own Native American culture. The dignified image is the produce of Western colonialism entirely, and reinforces the idea that there is no Native American culture, only western culture's perspective on it.
I agree that the ahistorical plot was one of the most offensive parts of this movie, but do you think the purpose of "Savages" could possibly have been to highlight the cruelty of the characters? That was always my interpretation of that scene, but I can understand why that song might be confusing to the young children that the movie was made for.
ReplyDeleteI agree that is seems unreal that the writers could involve a song that is so racist and offensive to Native Americans when the movie is primarily about Native Americans. I would have never thought twice about the song and this makes me think how many other Disney movies have racial stereotypes in them that we are so quick to let children view.
ReplyDeleteThis argument is very well-constructed. I think that your explanation of the ways that the writers tried to make what was basically a genocide seem more like a fair fight are ridiculous. The one thing that I'd like to see more of is what you think they should have done instead. I have a great picture of what they did wrong, now show me what they could have done right.
ReplyDeleteThis argument is very well-constructed. I think that your explanation of the ways that the writers tried to make what was basically a genocide seem more like a fair fight are ridiculous. The one thing that I'd like to see more of is what you think they should have done instead. I have a great picture of what they did wrong, now show me what they could have done right.
ReplyDeletePart of me agrees how horrible it is that songs like that are played in children's movies but the other part wonders if it's good that the movie creates conversation about discrimination. Unfortunately, these topics are still a problem in the world today and society needs to learn how to address them in one way or another, though I agree this is not the best way to do that.
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