Re: GEN: Pocahontas...one more post!

[Russell Smith <rssmith@TENET.EDU>]

rssmith@TENET.EDU (Russell Smith) writes:
> cartoon movie). Gibson jovially answers any questions about historical
> accuracy by mentioning the fact that any movie with a talking raccoon
> surely shouldn't be considered a documentary.
>
>      I haven't seen the film yet, but from what I have seen (movie clips


   Well, now I have seen the movie and I'd like to interject a couple of
follow-up comments regarding some of the emotional posts previously
concerning the racial element of the songs in the movie.

   Also... it was a talking *tree* (Grandmother Willow), not a raccoon
(only half my mistake...an AP story carried the raccoon quote attributed
to Mel Gibson).

   After viewing the film I am once again impressed with the quality of
Disney animation and storytelling. This is one you can be proud to have
under Disney license in your school library. It is *NOT* accurate
history, but then it is never advertised as such. It is historical
fiction and exceptionally well done.

    As for the lyrics which were quoted by a person who was offended by
the racial remarks about killing savages.... that presumption of racial
bigotry is completely warrantless. The movie had *both* sides (Indians
and whites) singing the *exact* same lyrics about each other. It was a
masterful symbolic indictment of the lunacy of warfare between cultures.
Both sides were portrayed as completely wrong in jumping to conclusions
about the dangers of the opposite race.

   Pocahontas was indeed portrayed accurately as the peacemaker she was
in real life and her father Powhatan also was cast in the same light. His
words in the film that there would be no killing in his lifetime was
completely historically accurate... the Indian wars in Virginia did not
begin until after his death.

   Although historically the movie was not true in many respects there
are many things in the movie that are examples of that era. The matchlock
muskets, the clothing of the colonists, and the food of the Indians being
just a few items that would make for interesting topics of discussion
with students.

   And even the historical inaccuracies would make for excellent teaching
topics. Examples: geography lesson-there are not any mountains in the
Jamestown area; biography lesson: Pocahontas married John Rolfe; cultural
traits- Indian females did not wear clothing above the waist and were
frequently covered with tatoos (Pocahontas in the movie was
fully-clothed, but did have one large tatoo encircling her arm).

   Probably the biggest complaint some people will have against the movie
is the large bust of Pocahontas (had to be at least a 38 inch!) and her
Filipino facial appearance. But her role as a feminine hero will endear
her to many young girls and that is definitely a change from the typical
male heroes in films.

    I saw nothing wrong with this film...much better than Mighty Morphin
Rangers (which you couldn't pay me to see!).

    BTW... while on vacation my kids also took me to see _The Indian in
the Cupboard_. Now that is also a very good film and will make for some
interesting comparisons between it and the book.

Later,


Russell Smith
rssmith@tenet.edu          rssmith7@delphi.com
Ed.Tech Consultant         Newspaper and Magazine Columnist
Region 14 ESC Abilene, Tx  Fax 915.675.8659 Voice 915.675.8647