Even in today's globalized world, racist elements can be found in films, not only for adults but also for children. In 1995 Ron Disney published the movie "Pocahontas", which deals with the first English settlements in the New World North America. Describing the first meeting of white English settlers and Native American tribe members, it tells the love story of Princess Pocahontas, the daughter of Chief Powhatan, who falls in love with the Captain John Smith, a white English settler.
The aim of this paper is to analyze whether there can be found racist or stereotypical elements in Disney’s movie "Pocahontas". To start with, basic theoretical concepts will be introduced. The subchapter 2.1. focuses on the definition of race. Since the goal of this work is to find out whether there are racist elements in "Pocahontas", it is necessary to define race. It will become clear that race is a constructed characterization of people and that it is not a biologically inherent, but created in the people’s minds. This will form the basis for the next subchapter 2.2. which deals with the concept of racism. It will be emphasized that the concept of racism is severe complex and can have different definitions due to personal appraisals. Furthermore, it will be pointed out that racism as well is a constructed phenomenon which does not arise because of characteristic features but because of social and cultural structures.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Theoretical Concepts
- 2.1 Race
- 2.2 Racism
- 2.3 Othering
- 2.4 Stereotypes
- 2.4.1 The Stereotype Content Model by Fiske et al. 2002
- 3. Disney's Pocahontas – A short summary
- 4. Pocahontas' real life
- 5. Differences between the real and the fictive story
- 6. Racism and Stereotypes in Pocahontas (1995)
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze the presence of racist and stereotypical elements in Disney's 1995 film, Pocahontas. It begins by establishing foundational theoretical concepts related to race, racism, othering, and stereotypes, including the Stereotype Content Model. The analysis then compares the fictional portrayal of Pocahontas with her historical counterpart, exploring the discrepancies between the two narratives. Finally, it examines specific instances of racism and stereotyping within the film itself.
- Definition and historical development of racism
- The concepts of "othering" and stereotypes
- Comparison of the historical Pocahontas with her Disney portrayal
- Analysis of racist and stereotypical language and imagery in the film
- The impact of media representations on perceptions of race and culture
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis by highlighting the prevalence of racism in various contexts, from historical atrocities to contemporary instances of racial bias. It specifically points to the representation of Native Americans in media as a potential area for examination, introducing Disney's Pocahontas as the focus of the study. The chapter emphasizes the film's portrayal of the initial contact between English settlers and Native Americans and frames the subsequent analysis within this context.
2. Theoretical Concepts: This chapter lays the groundwork for the analysis by defining key theoretical concepts. It begins by defining "race," emphasizing its social construction rather than biological basis. The chapter then delves into the complex definition and historical development of racism, highlighting its manifestation throughout history, including its role in the subjugation of Jewish and Black communities. The concepts of "othering" and stereotypes are also introduced, providing a framework for analyzing the film's representations. The chapter concludes with an explanation of Fiske et al.'s Stereotype Content Model, which provides a structure for understanding how stereotypes are formed and maintained.
3. Disney's Pocahontas – A short summary: This chapter provides a concise overview of the plot of Disney's Pocahontas, focusing on the central narrative of the love story between Pocahontas and Captain John Smith, and the backdrop of the colonization of the New World. The chapter sets the stage for the following analysis by providing a summary of the film's storyline, highlighting key events and relationships. This brief overview allows the following chapters to delve deeper into the specific instances of racism and stereotypes.
4. Pocahontas' real life: This chapter explores the historical figure of Pocahontas, examining the available historical records and attempting to reconstruct her life. It addresses the uncertainties surrounding her existence and questions the accuracy of the romantic relationship depicted in the Disney film. The chapter emphasizes the discrepancies between the historical account and the movie's narrative, setting the stage for a comparative analysis in the subsequent chapter.
5. Differences between the real and the fictive story: This chapter directly compares the historical life of Pocahontas with her depiction in the Disney movie. By juxtaposing the historical accounts with the fictional narrative, the chapter highlights the significant discrepancies between the two. It uses this comparison to set the stage for the analysis of how these differences might contribute to or reflect stereotypical and racist representations in the film.
6. Racism and Stereotypes in Pocahontas (1995): This chapter serves as the core of the analysis. It examines the film's language, specifically the terms used by the English characters to describe the Native Americans, and analyzes the lyrics of songs like "Savages." The chapter focuses on identifying and interpreting specific instances of racist and stereotypical language and imagery used to portray the Native American characters, thus directly addressing the paper's central research question.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Racism, stereotypes, Disney, Pocahontas, Native Americans, colonialism, othering, media representation, historical accuracy, Stereotype Content Model, cultural representation.
Disney's Pocahontas: An Analysis of Racism and Stereotypes - FAQ
What is the main focus of this paper?
This paper analyzes the presence of racist and stereotypical elements in Disney's 1995 film, Pocahontas. It compares the film's portrayal of Pocahontas with her historical counterpart, exploring discrepancies and examining specific instances of racism and stereotyping within the film.
What theoretical concepts are used in the analysis?
The analysis utilizes key theoretical concepts including race, racism, othering, and stereotypes. A significant portion focuses on the Stereotype Content Model by Fiske et al. (2002) to understand how stereotypes are formed and maintained.
What is covered in the introduction?
The introduction sets the stage by highlighting the prevalence of racism historically and contemporarily. It introduces Disney's Pocahontas as a case study, focusing on its portrayal of the initial contact between English settlers and Native Americans.
How are the theoretical concepts defined and explained?
The chapter on theoretical concepts defines "race" as a social construct, not a biological one. It delves into the complex definition and historical development of racism, including its manifestation in the subjugation of various groups. "Othering" and stereotypes are also defined, providing a framework for analyzing the film's representations.
What is the summary of Disney's Pocahontas provided in the paper?
The paper provides a concise overview of the plot, focusing on the love story between Pocahontas and Captain John Smith, and the backdrop of the colonization of the New World. It highlights key events and relationships to set the stage for the subsequent analysis.
How does the paper describe the real life of Pocahontas?
This section explores the historical figure of Pocahontas, examining available historical records and attempting to reconstruct her life. It addresses uncertainties and questions the accuracy of the romantic relationship depicted in the Disney film, emphasizing discrepancies between historical accounts and the movie's narrative.
How are the real and fictional portrayals of Pocahontas compared?
The paper directly compares the historical life of Pocahontas with her depiction in the Disney film. By juxtaposing historical accounts with the fictional narrative, it highlights significant discrepancies and how these differences might contribute to stereotypical and racist representations.
How are racism and stereotypes analyzed in the film?
The core analysis examines the film's language, analyzing terms used to describe Native Americans and the lyrics of songs like "Savages." It focuses on identifying and interpreting specific instances of racist and stereotypical language and imagery used to portray Native American characters.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
Keywords include: Racism, stereotypes, Disney, Pocahontas, Native Americans, colonialism, othering, media representation, historical accuracy, Stereotype Content Model, cultural representation.
What is the overall objective of the analysis?
The paper aims to analyze the presence of racist and stereotypical elements in Disney's Pocahontas (1995), using theoretical frameworks to understand how these elements are presented and their potential impact on perceptions of race and culture.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2015, Racism and stereo types in Walt Disney movies. An analysis of "Pocahontas" (1995), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/336692
